Jiribam Forest Division and Fire Service, Jiribam on Monday controlled and extinguished a wildfire spanning five acres at a hill near NH-37 at Phaitol village of Tamenglong district near the border of Tamenglong and Jiribam district.

According to sources, the Jiribam Jiribam Forest Division and Fire Service, Jiribam took around two hours to extinguish and control the forest fire spanning approximately five acres. Although the authorities could not ascertain the cause of the fire, they speculate that the fire may have gone out of control from an artificial fire.

Concerning the fire, range forest officer, Jiribam Range in-charge N Biraj appealed to the public to not start such unnecessary fire at forests and hills as it deeply disrupts the ecological harmony of the area. Igniting unnecessary forest fires is punishable under Indian Forest Act, 1927, he added.