The forest department and fire service personnel on Monday doused small-scale flames three times for preventing a revival of the bushfire that ravaged about 5 acres of the Sundarbans on Saturday, the environment ministry said in an update.

On Sunday night, firefighters had largely extinguished the fire that started on Saturday. However, they would be monitoring the situation with aerial drones till Wednesday night to preempt new flare-ups by dousing scattered and hidden flames.

In the Monday evening update, the environment ministry also confirmed the probable damage caused by the fire. The fire razed 5 acres of land after spreading over nearly 8 acres of land in the Sundarbans.

Forest fires are particularly tricky as opposed to urban building fire as scattered sources of fire can remain active underground at the roots of trees days after a major fire has been tamed above the ground. The fire can also spread very fast from a small spark on a leaf.

Forest department staff, fire service personnel, police and local community members are still engaged on the spot. Members of Coast Guard, the Air Force and the Navy have departed from the scene.

The Forest Department has also formed committee to determine the extent of wildlife damage caused by the fire and asked the committee to report within 10 days.

Early on Monday, Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain told reporters after a cabinet meeting that firefighters would monitor the situation for a few more days, without specifying the exact number of days for observation.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal had briefed other cabinet members about the Sundarbans fire situation and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had expressed her satisfaction at the prompt firefighting efforts by government agencies and the locals, Md Mahbub said.

Over the last 22 years, 25 major fires have erupted in the Sundarbans mostly due to the ignorance of local fishermen and honey collectors, according to the Forest Department.