Many forest fires in Nghe An are caused by people's carelessness.

Causes of fire

As recently as August 23, a fire broke out in a pine forest area in Hamlet 14, Nghi Tien Commune (Nghi Loc). With the efforts of the forces (over 500 people) participating in the firefighting, it took more than 3 hours to put out the fire, with initial damage estimated at over 2 hectares of forest. Notably, during the process of participating in the forest firefighting, 2 employees of the Nghi Loc District Forest Protection Management Board were burned and had to be hospitalized.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Lam - Head of Nghi Loc Forest Protection Department said: The cause of the forest fire is being investigated, however, according to initial information, it is suspected that 2 subjects set fire to the forest to catch bees, causing a forest fire with serious consequences.

Previously, on April 30, a forest fire broke out in Tan Phong hamlet, Thanh Khai commune, Thanh Chuong district, then spread to the pine forest in Nam Dan town, Nam Dan district, burning down nearly 10 hectares of forest. The investigation agency determined that 4 people cleared the ground and set fire to the forest fire. Currently, the authorities are handling the above cases according to the provisions of law.

Since the beginning of June, Nghe An has entered a fierce hot season. Although local authorities and forest rangers have strictly prohibited setting fire in the forest to catch bees, in many localities, people still secretly set fire in the forest to catch bees, causing the risk of forest fires.

A representative of Thanh Chuong District Forest Protection Department shared: Thanh Chuong District has an area of ​​over 62,000 hectares of forest, of which many forest areas are adjacent to residential areas. During the hot season, many people follow the profession of catching bees and setting fires in the forest.

Thanh Chuong Forest Protection Department directed forest protection stations in Thanh Thuy and Hanh Lam communes to actively guard and control forest gates. Since the beginning of June, the Department has discovered and prevented 3 cases of people setting fire to the forest to catch bees..

However, according to some bee hunters in Dien Chau district, from the beginning of June to the end of October is the season when bees produce quality honey, the season when bees reproduce, so people often go into the forest to find beehives to sell to improve their lives..

In addition to bringing fire to the forest Honey collection is still quite common, at eco-tourism sites near forests in Nghe An, there are cases of people camping, carelessly lighting fires for cooking, smoking, which can cause forest fires. For example, in the Xuan Duong Lake area, Dien Phu Commune, Dien Chau District, on weekends, groups of people from all over often come to visit and camp, creating a high risk of forest fires.

To reduce the risk of forest fires, at this time, Dien Chau forest rangers coordinate with local authorities to set up forest fire watch stations to promptly detect and handle incidents when they occur. Specifically, the militia, commune police, and local forest rangers are on duty 24/7 at the station.

A representative of the People's Committee of Dien Phu commune said: We clearly record the full name, address, phone number, and purpose of entering and leaving the forest for all people entering and leaving this area. Every day, about 20-30 people enter the forest to exploit pine resin or take care of the farm. If they camp and bring fire to cook, they will not be allowed.

In Vinh city, Quyet mountain area, Trung Do ward, Vinh city has many tourist groups visiting every day, the risk of forest fire due to some tourists bringing fire is very high.

In order to reduce the risk of forest fires, in areas with mausoleums and graves, the authorities have posted signs saying "no burning of votive paper" to limit the risk of forest fires. Around Quyet Mountain, at 3 checkpoints for people entering and leaving the forest, there are always forest rangers and related forces on duty to control people bringing fire into the forest.

Nghe An weather is still hot and dry, the risk of forest fires is still high.

Need to strictly control people who bring fire into the forest

Nghe An is the province with the largest forest area in the country with more than 1 million hectares. According to Nghe An Forest Protection Department, in the harsh weather conditions of high temperatures and intense heat lasting for many days in a row, the risk of forest fires is very high. Particularly at high risk of forest fires are 15,476 hectares of pine forests in Dien Chau, Hung Nguyen, Yen Thanh, Thanh Chuong districts...

In order to minimize the risk of forest fires in the coming time, the Forest Protection Department has directed its subordinate units to maintain 100% of their personnel on duty 24/7 during hot weather and high risk of forest fires. Forest owners and commune-level People's Committees have arranged forces to guard and control people entering and leaving the forest in key forest areas, at fire watchtowers, forest protection stations, and areas at high risk of forest fires to proactively prevent and stop forest fires.

Arrange checkpoints, patrol and guard in key areas prone to forest fires, strictly control people entering and leaving forest areas at high risk of fire (Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan's Tomb, King Mai Hac De's Tomb, Quyet Mountain Forest Park, Cuong Temple Area...). promptly detect fire spots, mobilize forces to participate in controlling and extinguishing forest fires in the shortest time, not allowing large fires to occur; strictly implement the reporting regime, ensure completeness, accuracy, and timeliness to serve the work of directing, operating and organizing forest fire prevention and fighting promptly and effectively.

The forces have effectively deployed forest fire warning work at fire watchtowers in the province, and monitored the forest fire warning information system of the Forest Protection Department. They have effectively carried out early warning and forecasting of forest fires to local authorities, forest owners and people to raise vigilance and proactively deploy appropriate measures to prevent and fight forest fires.

Along with that, proactively and urgently review plans and solutions for forest fire prevention and fighting in the district with the motto:“4 on-site”; arrange forces, means, materials, and funds for forest fire prevention and fighting.

The carelessness of some people makes forests potentially at high risk of fire, causing costly firefighting, and even affecting lives. Therefore, every person needs to raise awareness of forest protection.