Nghe An 'activates' forest fire prevention and control camera system.
To date, the province has 12 operational forest surveillance cameras. The installation and activation of the camera system enhances the effectiveness of forest fire prevention and control by enabling early detection of fires.
From the beginning of April, the Forest Protection Departments and forest management units in many districts of Nghe An province have put into operation the PCCCR surveillance camera system.
In Do Luong district, the camera system officially became operational on April 1st, installed in the high-altitude area of Quang Son commune. This surveillance equipment is capable of covering more than 2,000 hectares of pine and acacia forests in communes such as Thuong Son, Thai Son, and Dai Son.
According to Mr. Vo Si Lam, Head of the Do Luong Forest Ranger Station, the camera is designed with 360-degree rotation capability and a viewing range of up to 10km, operating continuously 24/7. Data from the camera is transmitted directly to a server located at the district's Forest Ranger Station, where officers are on duty around the clock to promptly detect and handle any unusual situations.
The data is not only stored at the Forest Ranger Center, but surveillance images are also transmitted to the smartphones of district and commune leaders and local forest rangers, helping to improve monitoring and rapid response capabilities at all times.
In parallel with operating the cameras, the Do Luong Forestry Company has also proactively implemented other fire prevention measures such as clearing undergrowth on nearly 200 hectares in key pine forest areas in My Son and Hoa Son communes. The unit has also prepared 7 flame blowers and hundreds of fire beaters to be ready to respond in case of an emergency.
At the Len Ngoi Forest Protection Management Station in Ngoc Son commune, the camera system is also operating effectively. Station chief Hoang Tri Thuc shared that just one camera can cover 1,200 hectares of forest. Four workers take turns on duty 24/7 to monitor the signals transmitted from the camera, in order to detect early signs of forest fires and respond promptly.
The fire prevention and control work has also been implemented in many other localities in Nghe An province. Specifically in Nam Dan district, 3 cameras have been installed in high-risk areas such as Nam Giang commune, the area around the temple of King Mai Hac De in Nam Dan town, and Dai Tue pagoda in Nam Anh commune.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Minh, Head of the Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Management Department of the Nghe An Provincial Forest Protection Sub-Department, said: Currently, Nam Dan district has 3, Do Luong 1, Dien Chau 1, Nghi Loc 4, Thanh Chuong 1, and Quynh Luu 1 early forest fire detection cameras. Installing these camera systems not only reduces the workload for personnel guarding fire watchtowers but also enhances the effectiveness of forest fire prevention and control.
The camera system is installed at key locations with a high risk of forest fires, providing continuous 24/7 monitoring. This equipment can detect early signs such as smoke or flames, enabling authorities to promptly mobilize personnel and resources to extinguish fires in their early stages. This is considered a breakthrough in the application of science and technology to forest fire prevention and control in Nghe An province.
Currently, the province has 173 key forest areas, with a total area of hundreds of thousands of hectares. This includes over 15,000 hectares of pine forest, 720 hectares of mixed eucalyptus forest, over 42,900 hectares of bamboo forest, and nearly 174,000 hectares of mixed timber, bamboo, and rattan forest. Given the large forest area and its scattered distribution across diverse and complex terrains, installing and operating a surveillance camera system is a necessary and effective proactive measure.
Besides investing in technology systems, localities in the province are also actively promoting awareness campaigns to improve people's understanding of forest protection and fire prevention.
In the coming period, the Nghe An Forest Protection Department plans to survey more high-risk areas to propose that relevant authorities install more cameras and expand the surveillance network in districts such as Yen Thanh, Hoang Mai town, and Quynh Luu.
