Forest fire watchtowers are effective in hot weather.

(Baonghean) - The prolonged hot weather has caused a very high risk of forest fires in many localities, especially in districts with pine forests. Therefore, localities and forest owners in Nghe An province have increased fire monitoring and implemented forest fire prevention and control measures.

These days, staff from the Nam Hung Forest Protection Management Station (under the Nam Dan Special-Use Forest Management Board) take turns to be on duty 24/7 at the fire watchtowers. At the same time, patrolling and controlling people and vehicles entering the forest have been increased.

Staff of Nam Hung Forest Protection Station (Nam Dan) take turns guarding the forest fire watchtower. Photo: Van Truong

Mr. Nguyen The Nhan - Head of Nam Hung Forest Management and Protection Station (QLBVR) said: In the management area, there is a fire watchtower built in 2016, over 10m high, able to observe over 780 hectares of pine forest and the border points between part of Nam Dan and Do Luong and Thanh Chuong districts.

Together with specialized forces, Nam Hung commune has established 3 more forest protection teams with members from 3 hamlets near the forest including Nam Son, Tien Phong, and 3/2 to enhance the ability to control forest fire prevention and control.

Nam Dan Special Use Forest Management Board is responsible for managing over 3,000 hectares of pine forest. Since mid-April 2017, the Board has assigned forces to take turns on duty 24/7 at 7 fire watchtowers in the communes of Nam Thai, Van Dien, Nam Hung, and Nam Giang.

Through the watchtower, a number of small fires were detected and promptly extinguished to prevent the fire from spreading. Since the beginning of the year, the Board has coordinated with households to clear 600 hectares of vegetation, clear 400 hectares of vegetation, and repair 38.24 km of firebreaks in Nam Nghia, Nam Hung, Nam Giang, and Nam Linh communes.

To prevent and fight forest fires well, it is necessary to carry out the "contracting and management" well. The company has coordinated with local authorities in communes to grasp the situation in residential areas, encourage people to accept contracts and resolve the "contracting and management" issue fairly.

Provincial leaders inspect fire prevention and control work in Nghi Dong commune (Nghi Loc). Photo: Van Truong

Quynh Luu district also actively has solutions to PCCCR. For example, Ngoc Son commune has a relatively large forest area, over 1,115 hectares. With the determination to not let forest fires happen, most households in Quynh Luu have built green runways which are a layer of mixed trees with a multi-layer structure, dividing the forest into lots to prevent ground fires and fires climbing up to the tree canopy, especially in pine growing areas.

Quynh Luu district currently has nearly 15,000 hectares of planted forests, of which 6,000 hectares are pine trees in the resin exploitation period. The main forest trees are pine and eucalyptus, which have essential oils that are highly flammable. In particular, during the hot season, the humidity of the forest drops sharply, sometimes down to 65%, along with the impact of high temperatures, which are potential factors for forest fire risk.

To minimize the damage caused by the fire, the Quynh Luu District Forest Protection Department has stepped up propaganda and dissemination of legal education to the people. In addition, the State's regulations on fire prevention and control have been included in meetings and forums so that participating members can voluntarily comply.

At the same time, direct the officers in charge of the area to directly coordinate with the base to organize forest fire patrols, command posts, on duty, and guard towers to prevent all violations of fire prevention and fighting regulations. At the same time, absolutely prohibit burning bees, people entering and leaving the forest during peak hours, and do not bring flammable materials.

The representative of the Forest Protection Department added: Forest fire prevention and control work is being deployed with the most drastic and optimal measures to prevent and be ready to respond to forest fire situations.

The forest rangers also coordinated to survey and build a firebreak system in key border forest areas. As a long-term solution, the Forestry Department coordinated with forest owners to survey and separate ineffective forest plantation areas with thick vegetation and high risk of forest fires to carry out procedures for forest liquidation and clearing for new forest planting.

Issue regulations on coordination between the Provincial Military Command and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in forest fire prevention and fighting according to Decree No. 166/2015/ND-CP of the Government, in which, clearly define the coordination mechanism for mobilizing forces and technical means to fight forest fires of military units. For forest fires that occur, implement well the on-site plan 4, fight forest fires promptly and effectively.

Van Truong