A massive wildfire, suspected to have been triggered by jhum (shifting) cultivation, broke out on March 17, 2025 around 10:00 am, at the border of Humtsoe village in Wokha district. Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, and Home Guards Civil Defence, continued to work tirelessly on the second day, however, the task is further complicated by the strong wind and the dry vegetation. Volunteers from Wokha and Humtsoe villages are also assisting in the mission to extinguish the flames and prevent them from spreading further.

Deputy Commissioner, Wokha and Chairman of DDMA, Vineet Kumar, IAS, highlighted that despite the deployment of numerous personnel and resources since the fire began, the high winds have made it difficult to fully put out the fire.

He said, “The wind speed has been very high, causing the fire to spread in all directions. Despite our best efforts, including the involvement of multiple departments such as SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, volunteers, and other agencies like the police and forest department, the winds and the dry season have made it extremely challenging to contain the fire.”

Regarding the fire’s proximity to the Vankhosung Helipad, Kumar confirmed that one of the SDO Civil officers has been appointed as the incident commander, coordinating the efforts of various departments to break the line of the fire and prevent it from reaching inhabited areas. “We have sufficient volunteers on the ground, and we are hopeful that we can control the fire here,” he added.

The DC informed that all nearby villages, including Wokha, have been put on alert, but he expressed confidence that the fire would not reach the habitation areas.

Thinuosielie, 2nd OC of the Fire and Emergency Services, provided an update on the situation, stating that while the fire near Vankhosung Helipad has been brought under control, the blaze has spread towards the cliff between Humtsoe and Yikhum village. The fire is still active in that area, as well as near a labour camp on the Humtsoe Road.

“We have been going back and forth to refill supplies and rotate personnel because everyone is exhausted,” he noted. He also mentioned that the cliff area is inaccessible for human intervention, so the team is hoping nature will help contain the fire once it reaches an area with no more fuel to burn.

Thinuosielie also shared that the exact extent of the damage caused by the fire is yet to be determined, as the fire has affected areas between Humtsoe village and the Vankhosung Helipad. While it is known that farms and plantations in the area have been destroyed, the full scale of the damage remains unclear. The fire has ravaged a significant portion of the jungle.

As for injuries or casualties, the 2nd OC confirmed that no reports have been received thus far, but they are still assessing the situation.

“We are focusing on extinguishing the fire first, and once that is under control, we will be able to provide more information,” he stated. Personnel have been deployed since 10:00 am on March 17, and they are continuing to fight the wildfire, with rotations in place to ensure the teams remain effective despite the long hours of work.