Villagers blamed children for setting fire that burnt large pasture fields in Laro village of Kumbur Payam in Nuba Mountains.
They said the fire happened after the children transferred to graze their cows in the dry places.
Residents told Radio Voice of Peace that a man left a match box in his clothes and instructed his children not to stay in the cow shed or lit any fire.
But the children lit the match and set the clothes of their father on fire which swiftly spread to the forest.
Villagers reported that few fences and huts were burnt.
They said cows narrowly escaped the burning.
The villagers said they gathered immediately after discovering a smoke in an unusual place and helped put off the fire.
The dry wind weather on Tuesday mid-day speeded up the spread of the fire.
The fire that started at about 6:00 PM was put off around 10:00 PM.