Every summer, the forests around Tiriya village in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, face the threat of fire. But before flames can spread, the residents are already on the move.

Members of Tiriya’s gram sabha patrol the forest on bicycles, looking for fresh smoke or flames. They work in shifts, maintain firelines and coordinate with the Forest Department when fires are detected.

The patrols are part of a larger change in how the community manages its forests. After receiving Community Forest Resource rights in 2022-23, Tiriya’s gram sabha took responsibility for more than 3,000 hectares of forest. Villagers say this changed how they viewed and managed the forest.

“Now, the villagers have reduced burning and monitor planned fires closely,” says Loknath Nag, who is part of the village’s Community Forest Resource Management Committee.

For the Dhurwa community, mahua and sal are important to food, livelihoods and traditions, while forest produce such as mushrooms depends on the leaf litter that fires can destroy.

The community’s efforts appear to be paying off. Recorded fires in Tiriya fell from 19 to three between 2022 and 2025, with one recorded by May 2026, according to the gram sabha and forest department.

Watch Before The Fire to see how Tiriya’s community-led forest patrols work and what it takes to keep a fire from becoming a forest fire.

This film was produced under Mongabay-India and ALT EFF’s Video Reporting Opportunity programme.