Is the fire still raging?
According to the Sedaye Sama News Agency, The forest fire in the Hyrcanian Elyat region of Chalous started on November 1. According to news sources, the fire, caused by human activity due to the presence of hunters in the rocky Elyat area, raises the possibility of either accidental or intentional ignition.
From the early hours, crisis officials and Mazandaran provincial authorities entered the affected, extremely inaccessible area. The rocky and difficult path from Elyat village to the fire site, which can only be traversed with light equipment and manpower, posed a major challenge for firefighting operations from the outset.
In the first days, the fire flared up in limited spots and was temporarily controlled by forestry, environmental teams, and locals. However, the dry forest cover and steep rocky slopes caused the flames to reignite.
Despite several days passing, the Elyat forest fire has not been fully controlled. Water and equipment were transported partly using pack animals, and forestry teams and locals struggled to reach the site. Due to the extreme dryness of the forest, the flames re-ignited, making the firefighting effort more difficult.
Reports from locals indicated the fire’s spread, prompting the entry of the Chalous governor and Mazandaran Crisis Management Director to form a crisis headquarters in Elyat village. Coordination for aerial firefighting using two water-bucket helicopters from Valasht Lake was intensified to directly tackle the fire centers.
On Friday, two Il-76 aircraft released water over the fire in two stages. Afterward, the smoke was so thick that the “Heliborne” helicopter repeatedly attempted to move personnel but had to return due to poor visibility. The army’s air forces also joined the operation.
Mehrdad Khazaei-Poul, Director General of Mazandaran’s Natural Resources, stated that firefighting operations continue with trained personnel and full equipment, and only specialists are allowed to enter the area. He noted that the fire has reached the river in some areas while some areas have been extinguished, but surface flames remain in the valley.
Hoseinali Mohammadi, Mazandaran Crisis Management Director, said that from Saturday, two Il-76 firefighting aircraft with 40-ton water capacity will begin aerial operations. Currently, six active helicopters are in the area, conducting over 60 sorties. The firefighting teams have increased from 22 to 40 units, with around 400 emergency personnel and volunteers participating daily.
Three helicopters from the Ministry of Defense were dispatched to assist in controlling the fire. Authorities emphasized full mobilization of all resources and cooperation with the public to contain the flames.
The Red Crescent has 17 operational teams on the ground, including 67 personnel working around the clock, with additional support from 41 staff and 23 volunteer rescuers. Due to the extensive area of the fire, two helicopters from the IRGC and Army Aviation were deployed, along with multiple ambulances and support vehicles.
Vice President Arif instructed the full mobilization of national capacities, coordination among provinces, relevant organizations, and public participation to extinguish the Hyrcanian Elyat forest fire.
source: tasnim
