ISLAMABAD: The first major fire of the season erupted in the Margalla Hills on Monday.

The fire that started in the afternoon engulfed almost over three acres and was extinguished by the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) staff late in the evening.

During the summer every year, the Margalla Hills faced a number of fires incidents. `Today, a fire broke out near a place where an Air Blue passenger plane had crashed a few years ago.

After struggling for over two hours, we extinguished the flames,` said director environment Rana Tahir, who headed the firefighting operation. He said over 40 firefighters took pan in the operation.

Director General Environment Dr Sulman Sheikh said the fire erupted because of the possible carelessness of tourists or villagers.

`We request the visitors not to throw burning cigarettes into the forest area,` he said.