Authorities promptly rescued a forest ranger who suffered from suffocation and heatstroke while fighting a forest fire in Nghe An.
In the scorching midday heat, while participating in extinguishing a forest fire in Thien Nhan commune (Nghe An province), Comrade Tran Duc Tuan - Deputy Team Leader of Mobile Forest Protection and Fire Prevention Team No. 2 - suffered from asphyxiation and heatstroke. Thanks to the bravery and timely expertise of medic Nguyen Van Phu and his colleagues and the on-site forces, the victim was saved right on the mountaintop.
At approximately 11:00 AM today, August 12th, as the forest fire in Thien Nhan commune was escalating, Comrade Tran Duc Tuan - Deputy Team Leader of Mobile Forest Protection and Fire Prevention Team No. 2 - suddenly suffered from asphyxiation and heatstroke due to the intense hot weather combined with the high intensity of work and prolonged firefighting.
At this time, the fire was still spreading, thick smoke was rising, and the steep, hilly terrain made it difficult to bring the victims down to the foot of the mountain for emergency treatment.
Upon receiving the news, medical officer Nguyen Van Phu (born in 1977, working at Thien Nhan Commune Health Station) immediately set off with nurse Nguyen Thi An. Despite the scorching sun and treacherous mountain roads, Phu asserted: "If we don't go immediately, Mr. Tuan will likely not survive. We must get to the scene as soon as possible..."
The climb from the foot of the mountain to the victim's location took nearly an hour due to the steep slope and dense vegetation. Upon reaching the scene, Officer Phu found Comrade Tuan pale, his limbs convulsing, and in critical condition. Unable to move the victim down the mountain, Officer Phu quickly set up a makeshift first aid station right on the mountaintop.
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Upon arrival, Mr. Phu immediately inserted an IV line, administered fluids and minerals via two IV bags, and simultaneously performed acupressure, measured blood pressure, and coordinated with the on-site team to care for Mr. Tuan. After about 30 minutes of first aid, Mr. Tuan gradually regained consciousness. At 2 PM, after determining that his condition had stabilized, the rescue team safely escorted the victim down the mountain and took him to a medical facility for further monitoring.
Medical officer Nguyen Van Phu shared: "Fortunately, when the incident occurred, the 'four on-site' team promptly provided first aid and performed chest compressions, allowing Mr. Tuan to breathe again. If it had been a few minutes later, it would have been difficult to save his life. When I received him, he was still very weak, his limbs were convulsing, so I had to provide first aid immediately."
Reportedly, on August 12th, a forest fire occurred in Hamlet 11, Thien Nhan Commune. The Thien Nhan Commune authorities mobilized over 300 people, including local military forces, militia, forest rangers, police, and residents, along with on-site firefighting equipment and tools, to extinguish the fire and save the forest. By 7 PM on August 12th, the fire was largely under control; however, forces remained on standby to prevent a resurgence of the fire.
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The incident in Thien Nhan commune demonstrated that forest fire prevention and control in extreme weather conditions poses many risks, directly threatening the health and lives of the participating forces. At the same time, it is also a vivid testament to the courage and responsibility of the local forest rangers and medical personnel, who are ready to overcome danger to protect the forest and save their comrades.
According to the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting, from August 11th to 13th, the area from Thanh Hoa to Da Nang, including Nghe An, will experience widespread heatwaves with temperatures commonly ranging from 35-37°C, and exceeding 37°C in some places. The intense heatwave poses a high (level III) to dangerous (level IV) risk of forest fires in Nghe An.
Earlier, on August 10th, two consecutive forest fires occurred in the province, at Ru Oi mountain in Hoa Quan commune and Thien Nhan mountain in Thien Nhan commune. Authorities, local government, and residents worked together to extinguish the fires in a short time.
