Maharashtra is facing a big problem with forest fires in 2025. From January 1 to April 7, there have been 1,245 major forest fires, which is a huge jump of 142% compared to last year when there were only 515 fires in the same time. This has made Maharashtra the second most affected state in India, just behind Madhya Pradesh, which has 1,743 fires, and followed by Chhattisgarh with 1,045 fires.
In the first week of April 2025, there were 118 large forest fires, and 21 of them were still burning and needed help to put them out. Most of these fires, around 99%, are caused by people, especially when they burn leaves from plants like tendu and mahua for farming. This shows how important it’s to teach people about fire safety and to make sure everyone follows the rules.
These fires aren’t just harmful because they burn trees; they also hurt animals and the soil and can cause bigger environmental problems. To deal with this, the Maharashtra forest department has set up a smart system using technology. They use satellite images and past data to find areas that are at high risk for fires.
This new technology helps the officials see where fires might start, so they can be ready to act quickly. They can plan better and send help to the right places faster. By combining this technology with watching the ground and talking to the community, the forest department wants to stop more fires and protect the forests.
The rise in forest fires has made it necessary for the state to improve its fire management system and work better with different departments. Using this advanced technology and smart planning, Maharashtra is committed to saving its forests and stopping more fires from happening.
