The eastern ranges of Dhari in the Gir sanctuary have experienced over four mishaps in the past one-and-a-half months. Yet the cause of these forest fires has not been traced nor culprits booked. Some spots suffer fire mishap every year, thereby burning grasslands. The Dhari eastern range comprises seven forests: Paanniya, Kalkhanniya, Sarasiya, Tulsishyam, Hadalla, Jasadhar and Savarkundla and 60 beat guards keep vigil over the area. The guards are supposed to patrol the spot, but many of them commute from their home, with no one supervising the forest and its upkeep. As for the foresters and range forest officer, they reach the spot only after the flames ignite. "This is no small matter. It is as serious as the issue of lion poaching. Once rainfall subsides, the dense grass grows and soon it is gutted. Someone with a wrong intentions fires this spark,' said a conservationist. The extent of destruction by fire this year during the four instances affected over 15 hectares of land. "Fire incidents at Mitayana, Karamdadi, Ramgarh and Kangasa did not assume menacing proportions. Had the fire caught in grasslands, it would have spread fast. This means the fire was lit by someone, that too after cutting the grass,' said Vinod Bhuva, a farmer. "These instances disturb the bio-diversity, damages birds' eggs, hamper the food chain and kill some animals ,' said Dilip Rajdev, a student. Mitiyanna near Khambha reports occurrences of such fires every year. For every 18 sq km area there is one forester, three beat guards, and a watchman. Casual labourers are also hired. One worker has to look after a mere one and a half km area, yet fires erupt in the region. "Even after the probe, no one is held responsible, nor any action taken. Stringent action alone can stop such nuisance,' said Umakant Mankad, a senior citizen. Citing instances of six lions being hunted on March 3 and 30 last year, Sanat Joshipura said that the DFO's post has been vacant since that date. The wildlife protection Act 1972 and Indian Jungle Regulations 1927 are invoked in such cases. Yet the outcome is zero, laments an official.