Ludhiana: A major fire tore through a forest area near Mand Jodhwal village on Saturday, destroying numerous trees and threatening local wildlife habitats.Alerted by rising smoke, firefighters rushed to the scene but were blocked from entering the dense interior by inaccessible terrain. Responders initially extended long hose lines deep into the woods, but when water pressure proved insufficient, firefighters and local volunteers used traditional beaters to contain the flames. The collaborative effort brought the blaze under control within two hours, preventing it from reaching nearby residential zones.Forest department officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, which disrupted an area known to harbor diverse bird and burrowing animal populations.