SHANGLA/DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A couple was burnt to death while trying to protect their firewood from a blaze that broke out in Hashamkhel Dab area of Martung tehsil of Shangla on Tuesday night, the police said.

An official said a fire erupted in the forests of Hashamkhel Dab, which spread rapidly out of control. He said a man and his wife were burnt to death when they tried to protect their firewood they kept near their house.

The official said forest guards, and local residents were making efforts to extinguish the fire.

He identified the deceased as Hakim Zada and his wife, Hajiroon. Their charred bodies were recovered from near their house.

An official of the forest department, Zahid Hussain, said the fire had been extinguished.

Replying to a question, he said the fire was apparently set by the deceased to burn bushes near their house, which went out of their control and surrounded their house quickly.

In recent years, there has been a surge in wildfire incidents due to prolonged dry spell, delayed rainfall, and shifting weather patterns.

According to the Shangla forest department, over 50 wildfire incidents were reported in 2024.

Three people, including a Rescue 1122 firefighter, were killed by a wildfire in June 2022 in Chakesar area.

Meanwhile, goods worth millions of rupees were saved as rescue officials promptly put out a fire that erupted in a container in Dera Ismail Khan on Wednesday.

According to a Rescue 1122 spokesman, the incident took place on Dera Ismail Khan Bypass when a container carrying goods, tar, threads, tea leaves, and other valuable items coming from Karachi suddenly caught fire.

After receiving information, Rescue 1122 teams swiftly reached the scene and immediately began firefighting operations.

He said two fire vehicles responded promptly and used foam and water to combat the blaze.

After two hours of continuous effort, the firefighters successfully brought the fire under control and thus saved the trailer and goods worth millions of rupees from getting destroyed.