Nghe An: Many risks of forest fires when the heat wave returns

Forest fires occur continuously

Since the beginning of the hot season, Nghe An province has been experiencing consecutive forest fires. Thousands of officers, soldiers, people, agencies, departments and branches have had to "struggle" to promptly put out the forest fires.

Typically, recently, in hamlet 8, Dien Loc commune (Dien Chau), an incident occurred.pine forest fireAfter discovering the fire, functional forces including Forest Rangers, Dien Chau District Police, Commune People's Committee, militia, youth union... and many people from the hamlets were present in time to control the fire.

Previously, on June 28, at Dai Hue mountain area in Phuc Dien hamlet, Hung Tay commune (Hung Nguyen), a pine forest fire occurred that was more than 20 years old.

Fighting a forest fire in Dien Loc commune (Dien Chau). Photo: Van Truong

According to the report of the Forest Protection Department, due to the prolonged heat, forest fires have occurred continuously in the province. Since May 30, 12 forest fires have occurred in Nghe An, causing damage to over 15 hectares of forest. After the recent rain, the heat has returned, increasing the risk of forest fires, especially in districts with pine forests such as Nam Dan, Do Luong, Hoang Mai town, Yen Thanh...

In the work of PCCCR Nghe An still reveals many difficulties and limitations. As currently, many areaspine forestForests with untreated vegetation are at high risk of forest fires. For example, in Quynh Tan commune (Quynh Luu), there are over 200 hectares of pine forests, but currently over 150 hectares of pine forests have not been treated.

For Hoang Mai town, Quynh Luu district currently has over 5,000 hectares of pine forest, but only about 500 hectares have been treated for vegetation, the rest have not been treated for vegetation.

The vegetation in many pine forest areas in Quynh Tan commune (Quynh Luu) is dense, with a high risk of forest fires. Photo: Van Truong

A representative of the Quynh Luu Forest Protection Department - Hoang Mai town said: The reason why many areas in these two localities have not been treated for vegetation is because the price of pine resin has been too cheap in recent years, leading to the situation where contractors are not interested in taking care of pine forests. The work of assigning forest protection contracts and organizing pine resin exploitation still has many shortcomings, interests are not balanced, and there are still potential conflicts, leading to intentional forest burning in some localities such as in Quynh Lap and Quynh Loc communes (Hoang Mai town).

Not to mention the lack of forest fire fighting equipment, the lack of equipment for grassroots fire fighting forces, such as the whole district of Quynh Luu and Hoang Mai town, the communes only have 4 fire blowers. In Quynh Luu district and Hoang Mai town, there are still dozens of kilometers of firebreaks that have not been maintained or renovated.

The ground cover in Quynh Tan commune (Quynh Luu) is so dry that just a spark can cause a forest fire. Photo: Van Truong

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Minh - Head of Forest Protection Management Department (Forestry Sub-Department) said: There are still difficulties in forest fire fighting, such as the fire areas are located in high and dangerous mountains, fire trucks can be mobilized but there is no access road. Therefore, forest fire fighting is mainly done by manual methods, fire fighting efficiency is not high. Not to mention that due to the Covid-19 outbreak, mobilizing people in the area to fight forest fires is very difficult.

Currently, forest fire fighting equipment is still lacking for the reinforced fire fighting force of military units and militia and self-defense forces. The boundaries of forest areas bordering adjacent districts have not yet been built with white lines, so the risk of forest fires in border areas is still high. Especially the areas bordering Nam Dan district with Thanh Chuong district and Huong Son district (Ha Tinh); Nghi Loc district with Nam Dan district and Dien Chau district.

The fire watchtower in Xuan Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) was damaged, making it difficult to keep watch over forest fires. Photo: Van Truong

Some forest owners and individuals still lack the necessary investment in forest fire prevention and control. Party committees in some commune-level localities have not really taken drastic action to direct the implementation of forest fire prevention and control tasks. Forest fire prevention and control work is still not firmly guaranteed, and the potential risk of large fires is still very high.

Strengthen urgent measures for PCCCR

To proactively take measures to control and prevent forest fires during the hot season, recently the Steering Committee for urgent issues on forest protection and development, forest fire prevention and fighting in Nghe An requested districts, cities, towns; Forest rangers, and forest owners to focus on directing and doing a good job of forest fire prevention and fighting.

Checking the fire blower in Xuan Thanh commune (Yen Thanh). Photo: Van Truong

Specifically, it is necessary to carry out well the work of warning and forecasting forest fires to the people, assigning and assigning permanent forces 24/24h. Districts with high risk of forest fires must set up checkpoints to control people entering and leaving the forest, arrange patrol and guard forces to prevent and promptly handle forest fire situations.

In particular, when a forest fire occurs, the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the district, city or town must be present at the scene to directly direct, mobilize forces, vehicles, logistics and command fire fighting according to the approved plan. For forests near residential areas and warehouses, when a fire occurs, it is necessary to proactively have a plan to evacuate people from dangerous areas, and have measures to ensure the safety of people's lives and property and the forces participating in forest fire fighting...

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nghia Hieu: Need to proactively take measures to prevent forest fires

(Baonghean.vn) - "Effectively prevent acts of forest encroachment, proactively take measures to prevent forest fires" - that is the direction of comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee at the conference to summarize forestry work in 2020, deploy key tasks and solutions in 2021 taking place this morning (April 13).

Add more fire fighting equipment to areas where forest fires often occur.

(Baonghean.vn) - That was the opinion of comrade Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee at the meeting to listen to and give opinions on the proposal to build a Resolution of the Provincial People's Council regulating the regular support level for the positions of Captain, Deputy Captain of the Civil Defense Team and providing fire prevention and fighting equipment for the Civil Defense Team in Nghe An province, period 2021-2025, which took place on the afternoon of September 17.

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Van Truong