Forest Fires Ravaging Pine Ridge Forest Reserve

Forest fires have claimed twenty to twenty five thousand acres or about 25% to 30% of the Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.

Chief Forest Officer Wilbur Sabido told us that the fires were started on May second, most likely by lightning strikes. He says about five major fires developed and you can see those as red spots on this satellite image. But they have been substantially contained through the joint efforts of a team of 60 BDF soldiers, Ministry of Works employees, and Forestry employees.

Sabido said it's not all that bad as the fires help clean up and regenerate the area. He says it was far worse in 2001 when 70% of the Pine Ridge burned.