Field fires galore: 40 reported around Muktsar since beginning of wheat harvest season

As the wheat harvesting season picks up pace, fire incidents in fields have become a major concern for farmers. According to official sources, nearly 40 fire incidents, both minor and major, have been reported around Muktsar town alone so far this season, which began on April 1.

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Eight fire incidents were reported around the town just yesterday (Saturday). The worst affected area was between Sotha and Duhewala villages, where around 75 acres of standing wheat crop were reduced to ashes.

Kuldeep Singh, Fire Officer, Muktsar, said, “We are on a high alert and have deployed fire tenders on the outskirts of the town to respond swiftly to any emergencies.” He attributed most of the fires to sparks generated from harvesting machinery.

“The risk increases when hot metal parts of machinery come in contact with dry straw, which is highly combustible. We urge farmers to ensure regular maintenance of their equipment and remain cautious while operating machines in fields,” added the fire officer.

He informed that the Muktsar fire office had 37 employees who were working round the clock to tackle fire incidents. He dismissed the possibility of electrical short circuits as a cause. “It will be wrong to blame the PSPCL authorities as they are proactive. They are enforcing power cuts in agricultural fields during the day to avoid any transformer-related accidents,” he said.

The recurring fires have left many farmers distressed as they struggle to protect their produce. With almost a month of harvesting ahead, the authorities have appealed to farmers to follow safety protocols and report any signs of fire immediately.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian on Saturday visited Bhitiwala village in Lambi Assembly constituency, where wheat crop was gutted in an accidental fire. He directed the naib tehsildar of Lambi to prepare a report in this regard.