Local officials in Markazi Province, Iran, announced that the fire in Miqan Wetland has been contained; the incident began on Thursday evening, November 30, and continued until Friday afternoon. Hussein Bakhtiari, the governor of Arak, stated in an interview with the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) that the use of firefighting planes dispatched from Tehran made it possible to control the fire. According to this local official, 50 hectares of Miqan land were burned due to the fire, but 'fortunately, the cultivated Qara Dag and the birds were not harmed, and what burned were only dry plants and reeds.' Hours earlier, the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) reported that the governor of Arak had requested assistance from Tehran to extinguish the fire at Miqan Wetland and to send planes and helicopters from the capital to the area. Mostafa Roudbarani mentioned that because the area is marshy and there are no roads, firefighting forces are unable to control the fire, although the municipal forces of Arak and nearby factories are trying to create access routes to Miqan Wetland using heavy machinery, including bulldozers. Miqan Wetland, or Farahan Salt Marsh, is located 15 kilometers northeast of Arak, and its proximity to the large city of Arak has caused the fire in the wetland to also pollute the city's air. Reza Mirzaei, the deputy head of environmental protection in Markazi Province, stated that after the fire started, air quality in Arak significantly deteriorated, with carbon monoxide levels tripling and sulfur levels doubling compared to other days. This environmental official also considered the cause of the fire in Miqan Wetland to be 'unusual given the cold season and the fire starting at midnight.' Mostafa Roudbarani also speculated that 'the cause of the fire might be the carelessness of illegal hunters or unaware individuals in the area.' Miqan Wetland is considered one of the habitats for migratory birds. This wetland was one of the areas in Iran that faced an outbreak of avian influenza last year, where migratory birds suffered the highest casualties from this disease.
Fire in Miqan Wetland Contained
A fire in Miqan Wetland, Iran, was contained after burning 50 hectares of land. Local officials utilized firefighting planes from Tehran to control the situation, and fortunately, no significant wildlife was harmed. The incident raised concerns about air quality in the nearby city of Arak.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A fire broke out in Miqan Wetland, burning 50 hectares of land but was contained with the help of firefighting planes from Tehran. Fortunately, no significant wildlife was harmed, but air quality in the nearby city of Arak deteriorated significantly due to pollution from the fire.
- The fire started on November 30 and was contained by the afternoon of December 1.
- Air quality in Arak worsened, with carbon monoxide levels tripling.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Miqan Wetland is a critical habitat for migratory birds and has previously faced environmental threats, including avian influenza outbreaks. The region's marshy terrain complicates firefighting efforts.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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