Odisha Deploys Drones, AI Camera To Tackle Widespread Forest Fires

Data from the previous year showed a serious problem, with over 29,709 forest fire sites found throughout Odisha. The main cause of these epidemics was human carelessness, which was made worse by dry grass and accumulated leaf litter in forested regions. Around 4,600 hectares of forest area were impacted during the 2025 season (January to June), according to reports from the Forest Department and other sources. Fire hotspots increased in comparison to previous years.

Learning from that experience, the department has significantly bolstered its preparedness for the current fire season. District-level action plans have been finalised and authorities have created and maintained 20,461 kilometres of fire lines in vulnerable forest zones to act as barriers against fire spread. Additionally, 334 dedicated fire protection squads have been deployed at division, range, and beat levels. These teams are equipped with essential firefighting gear, including nearly 5,000 fire lift blowers and safety kits.