Forest fire season: Lack of firefighting forces and equipment

(Baonghean) - Forest fire prevention and fighting (PCCCR) in the province currently has many shortcomings. When forest fires occur, some localities lack equipment, and the fire fighting force operates in a confused and ineffective manner.

Lack of skills and equipment

Looking back at the forest fire on June 12, 2016 in Thanh Lam commune (Thanh Chuong) bordering Nam Loc commune (Nam Dan), while the regular army and forest rangers were trying their best to put out the fire, the militia and people mobilized to put out the forest fire mostly stood by and watched; when asked, a local said: "We only went to supply water, because we didn't have any tools, we couldn't directly participate in putting out the fire.

Clearing vegetation in Thanh Lam commune (Thanh Chuong). Photo: Van Truong

Then the forest fire on June 27, 2016 in My Thanh commune (Yen Thanh), while the forest rangers, soldiers and local people were actively extinguishing the forest fire, the militia and self-defense forces of neighboring communes were mobilized to support in quite large numbers, with neat "military uniforms", but they fought the forest fire with their bare hands; or some reinforced militia and self-defense forces of the communes came but there was no coordination, everyone did their own thing, leading to a large number of people but no effectiveness.

Through discussing the situation of fire prevention and control work, Mr. Le Phung Thieu - Director of the Thanh Chuong District Forest Protection Management Board said: Local fire fighting forces in Thanh Chuong District are not trained in fire prevention and control, especially for the people. In many forest fires, the local authorities have mobilized thousands of people to participate, but the fire extinguishing is still very confusing, because they are not equipped with skills and techniques to fight forest fires and do not know how to handle each specific situation.

In addition, in Thanh Chuong district, many communes lack forest fire fighting equipment. Mr. Tran Duc Minh in Thanh Ngoc commune said: When we go to put out fires, we have to equip ourselves with tools. Mr. Nguyen Cong Nong - Chairman of Thanh Ngoc Commune People's Committee added: The commune has nearly 100 hectares of pine forest, but there are still no fire-fighting blowers.

It is known that Thanh Chuong has a natural forest area of ​​more than 64,000 hectares, of which about 5,000 hectares are pine forests that are easily flammable. However, the annual addition of forest fire fighting equipment is very limited. For example, at Thanh Chuong District Forest Protection Department, there is only one fire blower to serve the entire district. In the department's warehouse, there are only a few dozen pairs of shoes, machetes, and fire extinguishers.

Improve quality and synchronous responsibility

Nghe An is a province with a large forest area in the country, but the infrastructure for fire prevention and fighting is still very weak. The system of white runways in special-use pine forests has not been maintained and has gradually lost the ability to separate fires due to the growth of undergrowth and young pine trees. The system of water tanks, pumps, and water pumps for forest fire fighting in some places is degraded and damaged. Machinery, equipment, means, and tools for fire prevention and fighting are still lacking and rudimentary, mainly fire extinguishers, knives, and flashlights.

Technical staff check the fire blower at Do Luong Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. Photo: Van Truong

According to the Provincial Forest Protection Department: To make forest fire prevention and control work more effective in the coming time, an important issue is to raise awareness among people in forested areas about the importance of forests for the environment and household economic development. This is an important solution and the results will not be seen immediately, but it must be done regularly and continuously in a "slow and steady" manner, combined with administrative and criminal solutions for violations of the Law on Forest Protection and Development.

In addition to fire ban signs and forest propaganda, the relevant authorities need to diversify propaganda solutions and invest in forest fire prevention and control propaganda. Establish key forest protection forces in each hamlet and commune to promptly handle or immediately report to the authorities and the Forest Protection Department about acts that affect the forest. Measures such as training, technical training on forest fire prevention and control, forest fire management for specialized forces, forestry managers and specialists, contracted forest fire prevention and control forces, forest owners... must be implemented substantially and effectively, linked with responsibilities regarding rights and obligations.

In particular, it is necessary to improve the capacity of specialized forest fire prevention and fighting forces of forest rangers and forces participating in forest protection at the grassroots level to have enough ability to control, reduce risks, fight fires promptly and effectively, and minimize damage caused by forest fires; invest in specialized means and equipment for specialized forces in forest fire prevention and fighting and fire fighting forces to become a professional force ready to mobilize and quickly extinguish forest fires, preventing large fires from occurring and spreading.

Localities and forest owners (mainly planted forests and pine forests) also need to invest funds to clear and treat vegetation, and organize training on forest fire fighting techniques for militia, self-defense forces, and commune-level mobile teams. These are key forces for them to proactively and flexibly "fight" when forest fires occur.

Hai An