The story of soldiers facing fierce fires to save the forest

(Baonghean) - Despite the hot weather and fires all around, in order to preserve the green color of our homeland and country, officers and soldiers of military units stationed in the districts have rushed forward and faced fierce fires to save the forests. We recorded these images in the recent forest fires in the province.

“Keng keng… keng keng”! The alarm bells of the 414th Engineer Brigade (Military Region 4) rang out in a hot summer afternoon. In just a few minutes, nearly 200 officers and soldiers of the Brigade were present at the unit’s stadium, carrying many fire-fighting tools. Summarizing the information, Lieutenant Colonel Mai Van Thanh, Deputy Commander of the Brigade, quickly announced the mission: “Currently, a fire has just broken out in the protective forest area of ​​Thanh Khai commune (Thanh Chuong district) and is spreading to the forest area of ​​Nam Thai commune (Nam Dan district, Nghe An province). Right now, comrades, move to the fire area to help people save the forest”. As soon as the order was finished, the officers and soldiers quickly moved to carry out their mission.

Officers and soldiers of the Hung Nguyen District Military Command and local people put out the forest fire. Image:TC

Arriving at the scene of the fire, without hesitation, the officers and soldiers immediately crossed the forest, climbed hills, and slopes to the fire. The road was not far, but the steep slope and thick undergrowth, mainly dry pine needles, made it very slippery, making it difficult to approach the fire. However, the soldiers still moved quickly. Approaching and facing the "fire enemy", the officers and soldiers used fire extinguishers, some used steel wool, air blowers, and others cut fresh tree branches to "fight" the fierce fire. Following them were many officers and local people with water, hoes, knives, and joined in to prevent the fire from spreading... The intense heat, the thick undergrowth layer combined with strong winds caused the fire to flare up fiercely. Everyone switched to the plan of clearing the land to create a firebreak nearly 1.5km long, to isolate and control the fire from spreading to other areas. The army and people were united in the will and determination to prevent and extinguish the "fire enemy". After 9 hours of fighting, by 8:00 p.m., the fire was basically under control.

Having just withdrawn, the Brigade received news that a fire had broken out in the protective forest in Nam Thuong commune (Nam Dan district, Nghe An province) and was spreading to the forest in Van Dien commune. Fully aware of the danger of the fire, forgetting the fatigue of the officers and soldiers, they immediately set off. Together with other forces, officers and soldiers of Brigade 414 stayed up all night "fighting" with the fire. By 11:30 am the next day, the fire was completely extinguished. At this time, everyone was exhausted, sweat and ash covered their dark faces. Happy about the victory over the fierce fire but also sad about the loss of many forest areas, soldier Nguyen Thanh Tung, Company 8, Battalion 27 said: “The unit is stationed in an area surrounded by protective forests, so we regularly practice forest fire prevention plans. Unfortunately, today, the fire broke out in difficult terrain, the wind blew too strong, so the fire lasted long and spread, causing damage to many people's forests…”.

Officers and soldiers of Engineering Brigade 414 and other forces control the fire. Photo: Duc Cuong

During the hot season, Nghe An forests continuously "burned": In June 2015 alone, there were 12 forest fires, with a total damage area of ​​13.8 hectares in Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen, Thanh Chuong, Yen Thanh and Nghi Loc; and in the first days of July 2015, forests in Yen Thanh, Hung Nguyen, Tuong Duong, Thanh Chuong continued to burn... "Fire" raged, officers and soldiers of armed units stationed in the province were always the vanguard to stop the fire. In the pine forest fire at Dong Tu Va, in the area of ​​Tan Long and Ngoc Son hamlets, Cong Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district), the Military Command, the Mobile Militia Platoon and the militia of 6 communes, 63 soldiers of Regiment 324 - Military Region IV were the pioneers to save the forest. Similarly, in the forest fire fighting incident on Dong Chay mountain, Phuc Dien hamlet, Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district, officers and soldiers of the district military command had the first credit.

Major Tran Hoang Nhat, Deputy Commander of the District Military Command, said: Fire suddenly broke out in a pine forest on the top of Ong Thu dam, Dong Chay mountain, Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district at 11:30 a.m. on July 2. When the forest fire was discovered, local people promptly reported it to the authorities. Upon receiving the news, the District Military Command dispatched 25 officers and soldiers of the unit and many militiamen to participate in firefighting. Firefighting and extinguishing was extremely difficult when the fire was on the top of the mountain, the vegetation was very thick, plus the southwest wind was blowing strongly, while the force was thin, and the firefighting tools were rudimentary. With all their efforts, regardless of the danger, by 4:15 p.m., the fire was basically under control. When the officers and soldiers had just returned to their units and had not yet had time to rest, the fire broke out again at 5:00 p.m. The brothers immediately returned to contain the fire, and it was not until 7 p.m. that the fire was completely extinguished. However, to prevent the fire from breaking out again, the District Military Command assigned officers, soldiers, and local militia and self-defense forces to stay on guard until the next morning.

Also on July 2, a forest fire broke out in Yen Hoa commune, Tuong Duong district. Officers and soldiers of the District Military Command were also the core force to fight the fire and save the forest. Lieutenant Colonel Ho Viet Tan, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Tuong Duong District Military Command, said: The fire broke out in a regenerating forest area, located at an altitude of 1,500m, and was discovered at 6 a.m. Upon receiving the news, the District Military Command mobilized 50 officers and soldiers to fight the fire for a whole day to put it out, but still caused damage to 2.3 hectares of forest. Now in the hot season - the season of slash-and-burn farming, fires can break out at any time, officers and soldiers are always on duty 24/7 to be ready to perform their duties. However, it is recommended that Party committees and authorities at all levels take measures to manage and propagate solutions to limit the situation of slash-and-burn farming causing forest fires...

To preserve the green color of the forest - the lungs of the homeland, the soldiers have, are and will not be afraid of difficulties, hardships, and dangers in fighting fierce fires. Their spirit and contributions are always recognized by the government and the people. Mr. Ho Sy Dai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Dan district shared: "As a locality with a large area of ​​protective forests, mainly pine and cajuput, forest fires are very likely to occur in the dry season. In recent years, regardless of the time, whenever there is a forest fire, officers and soldiers of military units have always been present in time to join hands with the locality to effectively put out the fire. We are very grateful for the actions of the military officers and soldiers who have not been afraid of difficulties, hardships, and even dangers to help people save the forest...".

Duc Cuong - Thanh Chung