Into the Flames

As fires engulf the hills, frontline workers confront deadly conditions without basic safety measures, revealing a crisis in forest protection.

- Peerzada Mohsin Shafi

The fire in Verinag began as a thin wisp of smoke curling above the pine trees, almost unnoticed.

By afternoon, it had grown into a wall of flames licking the steep slopes, devouring everything in its path.

A forest worker, one of the men who patrols these hills, ran toward it, armed with little more than a stick and his courage.

He wore ordinary shoes and thin clothing, unshielded from the embers, the falling branches, and the scorching heat.

Within hours, the blaze claimed his life.

Around the world, firefighters enter infernos with suits that resist fire, helmets that shield their heads, gloves that guard against burns, boots that tread safely across heat-struck terrain.

Drones map active fire zones, thermal cameras detect hidden hotspots, and communication devices ensure teams move in coordinated, careful rhythm.