Wildfire Put Out in Hamoun

The fire that swept through the southeastern Hamoun Wetland, Sistan-Baluchestan Province, was put out shortly after it started on Friday morning.

According to Nayereh Pourmolaei, head of provincial office of the Department of Environment, park rangers reported the fire at Hamoun-e Hirmand, one of Hamoun's three lakes, during their routine patrol.

"The fire was extinguished by the fire crew and park rangers, who prevented its further spread," Pourmolaei said, ISNA reported.

The blaze that torched an area of around four hectares is thought to be caused by reckless human activity.

Reportedly, this is the second time since the beginning of the current Iranian year (started March 21) that the already endangered wetland has been affected by wildfire.

Earlier in midsummer, which is normally regarded as the wildfire season, the parched wetland caught fire but sustained no extensive damage.

The Hamouns are transboundary wetlands on the Iran-Afghanistan border and constitute three lakes: Hamoun-e Hirmand, which is entirely in Iran; Hamoun-e Sabari on the border; and Hamoun-e Puzak, which is almost entirely inside Afghanistan.

Since the beginning of winter, fires have raged across several swathes of Iran, bewildering officials.

At least three more incidents have been reported since a huge blaze in the drought-stricken Meiqan Wetland in Markazi Province on Dec. 22, which was also linked to human activity.