Proactively prevent and fight forest fires in border areas

(Baonghean) - To limit the risk of damage to forests, since the beginning of April this year, Yen Thanh district (Nghe An) has deployed plans to prevent and fight forest fires.

Yen Thanh has an area of ​​forest and forestry land of more than 21,900 hectares, distributed in 29 communes. Most of the local forest areas have complex terrain, adjacent to many communes of districts such as: Dien Chau, Do Luong, Nghi Loc, Tan Ky and Quynh Luu, so the work of forest management and protection, especially in border forest areas, faces many difficulties.

In addition, among the over 14,400 hectares of planted forests, there are over 3,000 hectares of pine forests exploited for resin from age 1 to age 4; over 1,800 hectares of planted forests are trees with high essential oils such as eucalyptus and hybrid acacia. The planted forests are long-standing, so the system of grasslands, thick bushes, and vegetation are easily flammable.

Mr. Phan Huu Tinh's family in hamlet 2, Lang Thanh commune coordinated with local forest rangers to clear and treat vegetation to create a firebreak. Photo: Anh Tuan

To limit damage and risks to the forest, since the beginning of April this year, the district has promptly implemented plans and solutions to prevent and fight forest fires. It has directed communes with forests to establish platoons and teams, and signed forest fire prevention and fighting commitments in 210 hamlets, 47 schools and more than 4,000 households.

Organized clearing and treatment of the pine forest cover of over 500 hectares; cleared and renewed over 30km of firebreaks. Along with the State budget, Yen Thanh Forest Protection Department purchased and distributed 13 blowers to key communes, over 400 fire prevention and fighting tools such as fire extinguishers, knives, iron rakes, and handheld loudspeakers to localities.

The core force of the PCCCR platoon of Son Thanh commune practices handling and extinguishing the fire in Ru Bac area. Photo by Phan Hien

Mr. Nguyen Trung Hung - Deputy Head of Yen Thanh Forest Protection Department said: To proactively carry out fire prevention and control work, the Department has proactively developed a plan, assigned forest rangers in charge of the area to coordinate with communes and forest owners; guided the clearing of vegetation, increased propaganda, especially in pine forests, and if any household does not comply, no license will be granted to exploit resin.

At the same time, provide vehicles to communes with forests, develop combat plans for each commune. During peak periods, 100% of troops are on duty, closely inspecting the local plan 4 on the spot.

By closely directing measures, implementing them specifically and synchronously, and adhering to the "4 on-the-spot" motto, in which proactive prevention is the main focus and timely fire fighting must be implemented, Yen Thanh district strives to minimize the risk of forest fires that may occur, in order to protect forest resources well during the hot season.

Anh Tuan - Phan Hien