The trees didn’t scream. The birds didn’t fly away in time. By the time the flames reached the forest edge, the air had already turned brittle. A family nearby noticed the smoke, but they didn’t call for help—there was no one to call. By morning, their fields had turned to ash. Thanks to a forest fire.
This isn’t just a natural disaster. It’s climate change, and it’s setting forests ablaze.
In India, the fire season is projected to grow longer by up to 61 days, with the worst fires hitting just before the monsoon. Over half the country’s forests could be impacted. As temperatures rise by 4.4 to 4.8°C by century’s end, dry leaves and branches will reach ignition point faster, leading to more frequent, more intense wildfires.
In India, the fire season is projected to grow longer by up to 61 days, with the worst fires hitting just before the monsoon.
Regions like the Western Ghats, the Northeast, and the Himalayan foothills are especially at risk. These forests cover 21% of India and are home to an extraordinary range of species. But that biodiversity is now under serious threat.
So, how do you tell a story that still feels far away to many? And why did we choose to tell it through illustrated storytelling?
Forest Fires: A Crisis Few See Until It’s Too Late
Forest fires don’t just damage land. They upend lives, destroy homes, and push families out. They threaten animals who can’t run fast enough and farmers who can’t protect their fields. And yet, these forest fires often go unnoticed in the wider climate conversation.
Forest fires don’t just damage land. They upend lives, destroy homes, and push families out.
At Simit Bhagat Studios, we didn’t want to present more graphs or lengthy reports. We wanted to show the urgency and the loss. The fear and the exhaustion. We created an illustrated story to help people see what it’s like when fire becomes a neighbour. Through silhouettes, colours, and carefully designed moments, we brought data to life.
Why It Matters
Forest fires don’t always come with a warning. Sometimes they spread slowly, quietly, until there’s nothing left to save. That’s why we made this story—not just to inform, but to make people feel. To pause. To imagine. And, maybe, to act.
If you’re part of an organisation working on climate action, environmental justice, or forest protection, and want to tell that story with clarity and heart, we’d love to work with you.
