On May 26, 2026, a major forest fire erupted in the Gilbert Trail and Upper Mall area of Kasauli, Solan district, Himachal Pradesh. The Indian Army, in collaboration with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and local civil authorities, launched a swift response to contain the blaze. The fire broke out around 3 p.m., prompting the Kasauli Brigade to mobilize troops for extensive ground firefighting efforts, which lasted over 15 hours. IAF helicopters supported these efforts by conducting multiple sorties using 'Bambi Buckets' to draw water from Sukna Lake in Chandigarh. Their combined efforts effectively contained the fire in critical areas, preventing its spread into vulnerable forest zones. Lt. Gen. Pushpendra Singh visited the site to oversee operations and commended the personnel for their professionalism and dedication, awarding commendation cards to those involved. As of now, operations continue to create firebreaks and douse residual hotspots, with no reported injuries or loss of life among civilians or responders.