A fierce wildfire that erupted on Mount Hanang’ mid last week has destroyed more than 170 hectares of forest and stirred deep anxiety among residents, exactly one year after catastrophic mudslides killed 89 people and injured 116 in the district.

Queen Sendiga, the Manyara regional commissioner who is leading an emergency response, said the government has deployed more than 200 militia personnel and hundreds of local volunteers to fight the blaze.

The fire, whose cause has not yet been confirmed, broke out inside the Mount Hanang’ Nature Reserve, proving difficult to contain due to the steep terrain, strong winds and recurring flare-ups in deep gullies.

“As we attempt to put it out, new flames keep emerging in the gullies,” she said, asserting that the fire will be extinguished “but we need residents to protect this mountain. Everyone in the surrounding villages must be the first line of defence.

‘We must avoid practices that endanger the mountain, including using fire to harvest honey and irresponsible cigarette smoking,” the RC appealed.

Abubakary Mpapa, a conservation officer with the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS), confirmed that over 170 hectares of the protected forest were severely damaged, noting that the most severe destruction is deep within the reserve.

This raises concerns about long-term environmental impacts, including soil erosion and the safety of vital water sources that supply neighbouring communities, he said.

Emmanuel Kiabo, the acting regional fire and rescue commander, said that the firefighters, TFS staff, scouts, militia units and villagers have been working continuously to prevent the fire from spreading towards residential areas and water catchments.

“To a large extent we have managed to stop the fire from reaching woodlands close to homes but flames were moving up the mountain and the terrain presents many challenges. So far, there has been no loss of life or damage to homes,” he explained.

Preliminary assessments suggest the fire may have been caused by human activity, particularly the use of fire during traditional honey harvesting—a frequent cause of wildfires in protected woodlands across the country.

One eyewitness said the blaze, now in its third day, began in Mogitu ward before spreading rapidly due to dry conditions and wind, while Hanang’ MP Asia Halamga urged residents to intensify their support for firefighting teams. The fire is spreading quickly and requires coordinated community involvement, he stressed.

The timing of the wildfire has unsettled many local people as it erupted on 3 December—the same date where in 2023 torrents of mud and debris swept down the southern slopes of Mount Hanang’, engulfing villages including Jorodom, Gendabi, Mogitu, Gedan’gonyi and parts of Katesh.

That disaster caused widespread destruction and left 89 people dead, and now many residents say this week’s fire has revived painful memories of the tragedy. Efforts to fully contain the fire are being intensified, while a long-term community strategy is needed to protect the mountain from recurring environmental damage, she added.