TEHRAN - A local official in Golestan Province says the wildfire which began on Thursday evening in Golestan Jungle was eventually put out on Saturday morning after it spread over 20 hectares.

Hassan Khosravi said the fire occurred in the high areas of Lohandar and Soltanali villages in Golestan Province, IRNA reported.

Khosravi said that the fire was brought under control with the help of park rangers, fire fighters as well as 100 of the locals.

“However, the blowing of the monsoon winds over the burnt tree may ignite the fire again,” he warned.

In another report by the same new agency, the extent of the fire was reported to have reached over 50 hectares.

Ismaeil Mohajer, head of Golestan’s Department of Environment, was quoted as saying that about 50 hectares of forests have burnt in the blaze.

Khosravi and Mohajer both blamed human as the main cause of the accident and added that one person has been arrested in connection with the fire.

Mohajer called on legal authorities to take serious action against those who set fire on the forests in order to prevent such “sad” events in the future.

Golestan national Park, 91,890 ha, is a protected area situated in the eastern part of Golestan Province and western area of North Khorasan.
PT/P