Satellites identified 38,900 incidents of forest fires last year, information of which was shared with the state forest departments, the Department of Space has said in its annual report.
The report said active forest fire monitoring was carriedout using satellite data from February to June in 2018. Forest fires are aregular occurrence during the summers.
“About 38,900 active forest fire locations wereidentified during the season,” the annual report of 2018-2019 said.
The report was tabled before Parliament during the on-goingBudget Session.
The information on forest fires was shared with ForestSurvey of India, DehraDun.
Additionally, fire alert SMSes are also sent to selectedstate forest departments, the report said.
One of the major events that was monitored using mediumresolution multi spectral satellite data was the fire at Kurangani hills inTamil Nadu in March 2018, it said.
A major fire event in the vicinity of Vaishnovdevi templewas also monitored from May 22 to 26, 2018.”Up to March 2019, about 15,657 active firelocations were identified and burnt area mapping for major forest fire inBandipur, Karnataka, was carried out and information was provided to the stateforest department,” the report added.