JIRI: A massive fire broke out in Halesi Community Forest of Jiri Municipality-2 in Dolakha district on Thursday.

The inferno that began at around 10 am today could not be controlled due to a strong wind in the region.

Rather, it is reportedly expanding and so far destroyed tress in almost half area of the 84-hectare forest.

Locals feared that blaze might expand to other nearby forests and human settlements as well.

SI Bishnu Raj Phuyal said a police team from the Jiri Area Police Office was deployed to contain the fire.

The causes behind the fire are yet to be ascertained.