SALLERI, SOLUKHUMBU: A fire that started in the house of a resident at Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality-3 in Solukhumbu district on Thursday noon swept through a nearby community forest and is getting out of control, said the locals.

A joint team of the locals, Nepal Army and Nepal Police is involved in extinguishing the inferno that has engulfed the Thadokoshi Red Panda community forest in Sagarmatha National Park, said Namgel Sherpa, Chairperson of Lukla community police service centre.

"Possibility of the fire spreading through the nearby human settlement is ruled out, but there has been a huge loss to the forest due to the blaze," he said.

"We are facing challenges to bring the fire under control for want of fire fighting equipment," said Sub Inspector Yadav KC, who is involved in dousing the fire.