The Pine Problem: Why Forest Fires In Himalayas Have Become More Frequent

Last Updated:May 27, 2026, 09:18 IST

A major fire near Dharampur in Solan district continued for hours earlier this week, with officials blaming burning pine needle heaps and human negligence.

A massive forest fire has been reported from Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district on Wednesday, once again drawing attention to a tree that environmentalists, forest officials and mountain communities have debated for years – the chir pine. The blaze that erupted in the Kyarighat area of Solan spread rapidly across hilly terrain, sending huge plumes of smoke into the sky as local residents and emergency teams struggled to contain the flames.

But Solan is not alone. Over the past several days, multiple forest fires have been reported across Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, particularly in regions dominated by chir pine forests. Authorities in Uttarakhand say nearly 400 fire incidents have already been recorded this season, scorching more than 330 hectares of forest land across districts such as Almora, Pauri, Chamoli and Rudraprayag.

In Himachal Pradesh too, fire-prone regions including Solan, Dharampur, Shimla and Mandi have witnessed repeated outbreaks amid dry weather and rising temperatures. A major fire near Dharampur in Solan district continued for hours earlier this week, with officials blaming burning pine needle heaps and human negligence.

At the centre of this recurring Himalayan fire crisis lies the chir pine tree – scientifically known as Pinus roxburghii. “Fire is usually triggered by callous villagers who at times set ablaze heaps of dry pine needles strewn on the forest floor in a bid to clear them or a lit cigarette left by a careless passerby," an official quoted by The Tribune said.

Why Chir Pine Forests Catch Fire So Easily

Chir pine trees dominate large parts of the lower Himalayan belt in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, especially at altitudes between 500 and 2,000 metres. Unlike oak or deodar forests, chir pine ecosystems are highly combustible.

Every summer, the trees shed massive quantities of dry needles known locally as pirul. These needles contain resin, making them extremely inflammable. As they accumulate in thick layers across forest floors, even a small spark – from a cigarette butt, roadside fire or deliberate burning – can quickly turn into a rapidly spreading wildfire.

Forest officials say steep slopes and mountain winds worsen the situation, allowing flames to travel uphill at dangerous speeds.

A recent study cited by researchers from CSIR-IHBT found that chir pine-dominated forests account for nearly 57 per cent of forest fire incidents in the western Himalayas.

This year’s heat conditions have made the forests even more vulnerable. Reports from Himachal Pradesh indicate prolonged dry spells and severe moisture stress in chir pine and oak forests across Solan, Shimla and Sirmaur districts.

The British Legacy Behind The Pine Expansion

Environmentalists often trace the dominance of chir pine forests back to colonial-era forestry practices. While chir pine is native to the Himalayas, experts say British forest management encouraged large-scale monoculture plantations because pine trees were commercially useful for timber and resin extraction.

Over decades, pine gradually spread across large stretches of hill slopes, often replacing mixed broadleaf forests dominated by oak, rhododendron and other native species.

Many local communities and environmental researchers argue that these changes altered the ecological balance of the Himalayan forests.

Unlike broadleaf forests, chir pine forests retain less moisture, produce highly flammable litter and regenerate quickly after fires, creating a cycle where repeated burning actually helps pine ecosystems survive and expand.

Even today, debates continue over whether excessive pine expansion has increased ecological vulnerability in the region.

Why Oak Forests Burn Less Than Pine Forests

One of the clearest contrasts visible during Himalayan fire seasons is the difference between pine and oak forests. Oak forests generally burn slower because they retain more moisture and produce denser, less combustible leaf litter. They also help recharge groundwater and support richer biodiversity.

Pine forests behave very differently. In Uttarakhand this season, forest officials quoted by Times of India observed fires spreading from chir pine belts into higher-altitude oak forests because of intense heat and strong winds. Environmentalists warn that repeated fires are gradually weakening oak ecosystems as well.

That is particularly concerning because oak forests are critical for mountain water security. Springs and streams in Himalayan villages are closely linked to healthy broadleaf forest systems.

Human Activity Remains The Biggest Trigger

Despite climate concerns, officials insist that most forest fires in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are still man-made. Forest department officials in Himachal Pradesh estimate that nearly 99 per cent of forest fires are linked to human activity.

The reasons vary. Some fires are triggered accidentally through discarded cigarettes, campfires or roadside burning. Others are started intentionally to clear dry vegetation or promote fresh grass growth for cattle grazing.

In Uttarakhand, local discussions around recent fires have repeatedly mentioned deliberate burning of pirul and forest undergrowth.

Officials say once these fires enter chir pine stretches, they become extremely difficult to control because the resin-rich needles allow flames to spread rapidly across slopes.

Climate Change Is Making Things Worse

Scientists say climate change is now amplifying an already fragile situation. The western Himalayas are witnessing hotter summers, reduced winter rainfall and changing snowfall patterns. This leaves forests drier much earlier in the year.

Earlier this year, Himachal Pradesh experienced an unusually prolonged dry spell that triggered more than 100 forest fire incidents across multiple forest circles.

Recent field observations in Himachal also reported rising fire activity across vulnerable pine forest belts in Solan, Shimla, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts during the ongoing heatwave conditions. Researchers now warn that Himalayan fire seasons are becoming longer, more intense and more geographically widespread.

Can The Pine Needle Crisis Be Managed?

Both Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have started exploring ways to reduce fire risks linked to pine needles. In Uttarakhand, the government recently said it purchased more than 5,500 tonnes of pine needles from villagers to help reduce combustible material on forest floors. Himachal Pradesh, meanwhile, recently amended provisions under the Himachal Pradesh Land Preservation Act to allow removal of heavily infested and fire-damaged chir pine trees in some regions.

But forest experts say firefighting alone cannot solve the crisis. Without better forest management, pine needle clearance, community awareness and restoration of ecologically diverse forests, the Himalayan states are likely to continue facing devastating fires every summer.

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