An IAF chopper made several sorties to help douse a major fire in Jammu & Kashmir. Fire raged for nearly six hours & gutted over a dozen houses in a village in Ramban. No one was injured in the fire which started around 11 am in Hijwa village of Khari. Officials said fire spread fast as houses were closely located & mostly built of wood. Army & police reached the spot immediately to assist local volunteers to douse flames. Fire tenders from Banihal town, 28 kms from the village, were also pressed into service. Fire was brought under control after joint operation with an IAF chopper joining mission. The IAF made several sorties & poured buckets full of water on the raging fire. The Station House Officer said that the cause of fire was not known immediately. District Development Commissioner & council chief assured victims of all possible help.