Forest fire prevention runways in many communes in Nghe An are still lacking and weak.

Firebreakis the "blank/white" space that separates forests from each other. This space has the effect of preventing the spread of fire when the forest is on fire. There are two types of firebreaks: white and blue. White firebreaks are spaces that have been cleared of grass, weeds, and litter and have been hoed or plowed to prevent forest fires when they occur. Blue firebreaks are planted with mixed trees, choosing tree species that are fire-resistant, dividing the forest into plots to prevent large fires and the spread of fires.

In Nghe An, currently only the forest owners, the Management Board of Protective Forests and Special-Use Forests, annually carry out maintenance and repair of firebreaks. Specifically, maintenance of auxiliary firebreaks is 10-12 meters wide, and main firebreaks is 15-17 meters. Most of the remaining communes in the area still lack firebreaks due to lack of maintenance or construction of new firebreaks.

Some areas of firebreaks in Dien Chau district have not been maintained and are overgrown with vegetation. Photo: Van Truong

In Dien Chau district, there is a large area of ​​pine forests but only a few have firebreaks, the rest of the communes in the area have not been repaired. Visiting the forests of Dien Phu commune, Dien Chau district these days, we see that most of the vegetation under the pine forest canopy has not been treated, especially the firebreak system here has long been covered by overgrown vegetation.

The representative of Dien Phu Commune People's Committee shared: We also know that firebreaks play a very important role in zoning and extinguishing fires, preventing fires from spreading to surrounding areas. However, due to financial difficulties, the commune has not had the conditions to repair firebreaks. In recent years, the commune has mainly carried out prevention work, such as sending forces to guard and control forest gates to promptly detect and handle incidents when they occur.

A representative of Dien Chau District Forest Protection Department said: Dien Chau District has over 6,000 hectares of pine forests. Since 2008, the project to improve forest fire prevention and fighting capacity has provided funding for Dien Chau District to build over 40 km of firebreaks. However, since then, due to financial difficulties, the firebreak system managed by the communes has not been repaired.

Dry land under the pine forest canopy in Dien Phu commune (Dien Chau) is at high risk of forest fire. Photo: Van Truong

In reality, many communes in Dien Chau district do not have runways in sub-regions, intra-regional runways, or inter-regional runways.

In 2020 and 2021, large forest fires occurred in Dien Chau district in the communes of Dien Loi, Dien An, Dien Phu... Although the district mobilized a large force to fight forest fires, due to the lack of a firebreak system, forest fires spread quickly, fire fighting encountered many difficulties, and forest fires caused serious consequences.

Also in the same situation, Yen Thanh district has many communes that have not been able to maintain firebreaks. For example, My Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, bordering Hoa Son commune, Do Luong district, is a hot spot where forest fires often occur. Because the firebreaks have not been maintained, when a forest fire occurs, the fire spreads from one district to another, making it very difficult to extinguish.

Mr. Pham Cong Hung - Chairman of the People's Committee of My Thanh commune said: The commune has over 200 hectares of pine forest (managed by the commune). Since the beginning of the dry season in 2023, Yen Thanh district has supported 25 million VND. The commune has assigned the militia to build about 500 meters of firebreaks with a width of 10 meters. Currently, there are over 2.5 km of runways that have not been processed.

Due to the lack of maintenance of the firebreak, the forest fire in early May 2023 in Thuong Son commune (Do Luong) encountered many difficulties in firefighting. Photo: Van Truong

The representative of Yen Thanh District Forest Protection Department added: Yen Thanh district has over 1,000 hectares of pine forest. Since the beginning of the hot season, only the Yen Thanh Protective Forest Management Board has been able to maintain and repair over 15 km of firebreaks managed by this unit. Currently, the district has not been able to maintain and repair over 30 km of the firebreak system that previously existed in Tan Thanh commune bordering Dien Doai commune (Dien Chau), Cong Thanh commune bordering Hoa Son commune (Do Luong)...

In addition, Nghe An still has many districts lacking firebreaks such as Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen, Thanh Chuong, Quynh Luu...

Currently, in Nghe An, only the management boards of protective forests, special-use forests, and forestry companies have implemented maintenance and repair of firebreaks. The remaining firebreaks managed by communes do not exist. (In the photo: Firebreak managed by Nghi Loc protective forest management board). Photo: Van Truong

According to the report of the Forest Protection Department, it is known that according to the regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, pine forests of 2,000 hectares or more must build white runways to combine dividing the forest into sub-areas and combine the runway with the transportation road, with a prescribed width of 8 to 12 meters.

Forests with an area of ​​100 hectares or more must build auxiliary runways divided into plots and lots. The auxiliary runways are connected to the main runways, with a width of 6 to 10 meters.

Currently, in Nghe An, only the Management Boards of protective forests, special-use forests, and Forestry Companies have built 186 km of firebreaks that meet standards. Most of the remaining firebreaks managed by communes have not been repaired.

The pine forest area in Nghi Yen commune (Nghi Loc), bordering Dien Phu commune (Dien Chau), has not yet had its firebreak repaired. Photo: Van Truong

According to estimates, the entire province is still lacking over 150 km of new firebreaks. To build new firebreaks, forest owners must prepare design documents, submit them to the Forest Protection Department for appraisal and ask for opinions from higher authorities. However, for a long time, very few commune-level forest owners have prepared documents to request the construction of firebreaks.

Also according to the representative of the Forest Protection Department: The province has paid attention to and arranged the budget for implementing the PCCCR plan of forest owners, organizations and local authorities every year. However, it still does not meet the actual needs, especially the work of treating the ground cover and making firebreaks. Therefore, localities need to combine capital sources, as well as actively implement socialization to maintain and repair firebreaks, contributing to effective forest fire prevention.