Forest fire in Thanh Chuong and Nam Dan districts (Nghe An), May 1, 2024. Photo: Van Ty/TTXVN
Forest fires cause serious consequences
In Ha Giang province, prolonged hot weather above 40 degrees Celsius occurred for many consecutive days, leading to dry forests. During the two days of April 26 – 27, in Vi Xuyen district, nearly 20 hectares of forest were burned down. During the firefighting process, two forest rangers died and another ranger was injured. Immediately after the fire broke out, on behalf of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang sent greetings and deepest condolences to the relatives of the families of the injured forest rangers in Ha Giang province; request Ministers and Heads of Government agencies; Chairman of the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities will strengthen direction and drastically implement urgent measures to prevent and fight forest fires and focus on overcoming the consequences of forest fires.
On the afternoon of May 2, a fire broke out at Lot 2, Plot 7, Lot 7, Plot 8, Sub-area 179 (Phuoc Thai commune, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province). Immediately after detecting the fire warning point from satellite, the Ninh Thuan Provincial Forest Protection Department informed the Ninh Phuoc District Forest Protection Department, the forest owner, Tan Giang Lake Watershed Protection Forest Management Board, requesting implementation. mobilized forces and means to urgently approach the scene, extinguish the fire and create a white runway to delineate the fire area. After about 3 hours of efforts to put out the fire, the fire was basically controlled and localized.
On May 4, Tay Ninh province had a forest fire on a large area in Section 3 and Section 6, Sub-zone 5 (bridge area 15), in Lo Go – Xa Mat National Park, Tan Bien district. The locality has mobilized functional forces to organize fire fighting measures. By 4:30 a.m. on May 5, the fire was basically controlled.
Commenting on the risk of forest fires in the coming time, Mr. Hoang Duc Cuong, Deputy Director of the General Department of Hydrometeorology, said that many provinces such as Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Kom Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Nong, Tay Ninh and the Southwestern provinces also experience widespread heat and have a very dangerous risk warning level (level V). From now until mid-May, some provinces have a very dangerous forest fire risk warning level. Specifically, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An are likely to experience widespread heat from May 11 to 15 with the highest temperature ranging from 36-39 degrees Celsius, with some places over 40 degrees Celsius. Localities need to monitor closely. forecasts and warnings from hydrometeorological agencies to proactively respond.
There are many effective ways to prevent and fight forest fires
Faced with the high risk of forest fires, many localities have had effective ways to prevent and fight forest fires.
According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Director of Dak Lak Provincial Forest Protection Department, to be proactive in preventing and fighting forest fires and minimizing damage caused by forest fires, the Department has fully deployed documents. Direct and request affiliated units to drastically strengthen forest fire prevention and fighting measures.
Accordingly, forest rangers are assigned to regularly monitor forest fire warning information on the Forest Protection Department’s early fire warning information system to continuously forecast and provide forest fire forecast information. Mobile Forest Ranger and Fire Prevention and Fighting Teams No. 1, 2, and 3 coordinate with the local Forest Ranger District and forest owner units to review equipment, tools, and means of forest fire prevention and fighting. of the unit and forest owners in the management area; proactively be ready to promptly, thoroughly and safely fight forest fires according to the motto 4 on-site (on-site forces, on-site vehicles, on-site command, on-site logistics) and 4 readiness (on-site force readiness, vehicle readiness, logistics readiness and command readiness).
Tram Chim National Park in Tam Nong district has the largest forest area in the province and is the 2,000th Ramsar site in the world. Currently, the Park has zones A1, A3, A4 and A5 with fire forecast at level V (extremely dangerous), zone A2 with fire forecast at level IV (dangerous). Vice Chairman of Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Phuoc Thien directed Tram Chim National Park to strictly carry out management responsibilities for forest fire prevention and fighting, considering this a key task, not to be subjective. to be negligent, to lose vigilance. Mr. Phan Huu Tinh, Department of Management, Protection, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting of Tram Chim National Park, said that to proactively prevent and fight forest fires in the dry season of 2024, the Park proactively uses all resources and is on duty 24/24. hours in fire prevention and fighting. The garden has been equipped with cameras and flycams in key areas for direct management and timely detection when a fire occurs; At the same time, hundreds of human resources are mobilized to be ready to respond and participate in forest fire prevention and fighting. The garden also has 19 security stations and 9 observation towers, watchtowers, along with specialized and improved fire pumps, tens of thousands of meters of fire hose, hundreds of spray cans, along with fire rakes and water sprinklers. …, ready for forest fire prevention and fighting.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Vien, Director of Dong Thap Muoi Conservation and Ecotourism Area, Tien Giang Province, said that to proactively prevent and fight forest fires this year, the Management Board has made a plan to keep the vegetation moist. objects and ground by arranging 2 open drains and 1 high-capacity electric pump station to pump water to flood the field, limiting the risk of fire. In addition, the Management Board has signed a contract on ensuring fire prevention and fighting safety with local authorities and units located in the area. The unit organizes direct propaganda with people in the buffer zone of the Reserve through exchanges and contacts to raise people’s awareness; Develop annual fire prevention and fighting plans. After 23 years of establishing the Reserve, up to now, the work of ensuring safety in forest fire prevention and control has always been well implemented.
Previously, to proactively prevent and fight forest fires and minimize damage caused by forest fires, the Prime Minister issued Official Telegram No. 43/CD-TTg dated May 1, 2024 on Strengthen the implementation of urgent measures to prevent and fight forest fires, Official Dispatch No. 41/CD-TTg, April 27, 2024. Dispatch No. 31/CD-TTg, dated April 4, 2024 of the Prime Minister on proactively and strengthening urgent measures to prevent and fight forest fires. Accordingly, the Prime Minister requests ministries, branches, and Chairman of the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, according to their assigned functions, tasks and authorities, to continue to strictly implement Conclusion No. 61- KL/TW of the Secretariat on continuing to implement Directive No. 13-CT/TW of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party’s leadership in forest management, protection and development; and relevant guiding documents; promptly praise and reward organizations and individuals actively participating in forest fire prevention and fighting; Be responsible to the Prime Minister if large-scale forest fires occur and cause great damage to forests in areas under their management.
