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Massive fire in western Iran forests

22 July 2010 23:28 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A massive forest fire has burned at least 3,000 square kilometers of protected areas in western Iran, endangering the lives of the area’s unique wildlife, APA reports quoting presstv.ir website.

The fire broke out on Wednesday evening in the protected area of Oshtorankooh in the province of Lorestan.

Firefighters, with the help of locals, managed to put out the fire, which is believed to have been triggered by warm, dry winds caused by soaring temperatures.

"The fire broke out in an area of 500 hectares [5,000 square kilometers], causing damages to 300 hectares of land with unique animal and plant life," Fars News Agency quoted Hassan Ahmadi, deputy governor of the city of Doroud, as saying.

He further criticized the province’s Emergency Committee officials for their failure to send helicopters to help put out the fire.

Ahmadi said investigation was underway to determine the exact cause of the blaze.