Forest burnt, breath choked

Night had already fallen when this forest was set into fire, flames crawling through dry brush, smoke rolling into the dark before anyone could stop it.

It looks small here, almost contained.

But this is how most of Nepal's forest fires begin. Nepal's fire season runs roughly February through April, when dry winter leaf litter and pre-monsoon heat turn forests into fuel.

Many fires are deliberately lit to clear undergrowth or encourage new grass for livestock which then spread out of control.

Nepal recorded over 8,000 forest fire alerts in 2021 alone, among the worst seasons on record.

These fires release huge volumes of CO₂, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter, often pushing air quality of place at greater distance into hazardous levels even when fires burn far away from that place. The damage isn't only smoke.

Fires destroy nesting grounds and food sources, forcing wildlife like deer, birds, even endangered species like the red panda toward human settlements, or killing them outright. This fire will likely be out by morning.

What it leaves behind in the air and the forest won't clear nearly as fast.