Nghe An: Investigate and strictly handle cases of intentional forest burning

On the afternoon of April 9, at the People's Committee of Nam Dan district, under the chairmanship of Mr. Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting to discuss forest fire prevention and fighting (PCCCR). Attending were representatives of Nam Dan district, Thanh Chuong district and related departments.

Comrade Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting. Photo: Van Truong

Previously, the working group inspected fire prevention and control work in the key areas of the Hoang Thi Loan tomb relic site and some communes: Nam Giang, Nam Nghia; Surveyed Nam Loc (Nam Dan) bordering Thanh Lam (Thanh Chuong) - a place where forest fires often occur due to the firebreak being too small; Surveyed pine forests in Khanh Son commune (Nam Dan) bordering Son Tien commune, Huong Son district, Ha Tinh.

The working group inspected the border area of ​​Nam Loc (Nam Dan) and Thanh Lam (Thanh Chuong). Photo: Van Truong

Nam Dan district has 5,624 hectares of forest land, mainly pine forests, which are highly flammable and spread quickly. On average, the district experiences 5-7 forest fires each year. To effectively implement forest fire prevention and control work, Nam Dan has completed the Steering Committee for implementing the district's forest protection and development plan; developed operating regulations and announced specific tasks to members; and developed a forest fire prevention and control plan for 2018.

Up to this point, Nam Dan has cleared 230 ha/400 ha of vegetation in key areas, repaired 4 fire watchtowers, and repaired 15/38 km of firebreaks. However, to effectively prevent forest fires, it is necessary to speed up the procedures for building firebreaks in border areas.

Comrade Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee inspected fire prevention and control work at the tomb of Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan. Photo: Van Truong

Thanh Chuong district has over 19,000 hectares of planted forests, acacia, pine in Thanh Lam, Thanh Ngoc communes... The risk of forest fires often occurs in the border area of ​​Nam Dan. Before the hot season, the district has developed 35 fire prevention plans, established 33 Steering Committees on forest protection and development plans with 647 people. Organized the signing of commitments to not let forest fires occur between the People's Committees of 32 communes. Organized clearing of vegetation under the pine forest canopy between Thanh Ngoc and Thanh Lam communes, built 1.5 km of pine forest firebreak.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Tien Lam, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: In Nam Dan and Thanh Chuong districts, there are still many pine forests managed by the locality, which are prone to conflicts and forest fires due to disputes over the rights to exploit resin. Therefore, it is necessary to have a solution to assign forests to people for appropriate management. Regarding the firebreak, it is recommended that the Nam Dan Special-Use Forest Management Board promptly clear the land, set up markers and treat the vegetation in the area where the firebreak is built to prevent fires.

Concluding the meeting, Mr. Dinh Viet Hong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, acknowledged the efforts in fire prevention and control work of the Party Committee and the authorities of Nam Dan and Thanh Chuong districts in the past year. At the same time, he suggested that it is necessary to build a fire-break belt combined with a road for people and forest fire fighting vehicles in 2018 with a length of more than 27 km, passing through 5 communes from Nam Thuong to Nam Kim... On the fire-break belt, any place at risk of fire can be handled first without waiting for construction.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested relevant localities and sectors to hold meetings to discuss forest fire prevention and control work between the border areas of Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan and Ha Tinh for synchronous implementation. In addition to reviewing the 4 on-site principles in forest fire prevention and control, the police sector needs to investigate cases of intentional forest fires to educate and deter.

Pine forest fire in Nam Dan

(Baonghean.vn) - At 3am on July 18, 2016, a fire broke out in a pine forest in Hamlet 4, Khanh Son Commune, Nam Dan District. The fire burned down 5 hectares of forest and spread to Hamlet 10, Nam Loc Commune.

Pine forest fire in Do Luong

(Baonghean.vn) - At noon on May 29, a forest fire broke out in Van Son commune, Do Luong district. By 3 p.m. the same day, the fire had not yet been controlled. Many hectares of pine forest had been burned down.