A major fire took place in the early hour of today (08 September 2009) at the jungles of Manthivu Island (approximately ½ Km away from SLAF Batticaloa) in which a leprosy hospital and few other buildings are are also situated. However, troops from Sri Lanka Air Force Batticaloa reacted within a short period of time and managed to evacuate 13 personnel (patients and staff) who may have suffered if the fire spread any further. Meanwhile, a SLAF Bell 212 helicopter was engaged in fighting the fire by pouring water over the affected areas. The cause of the fire is yet to be discovered.