Strengthen urgent measures for forest fire prevention and control.

(Baonghean)Official dispatch No. 10/CD-UBND dated May 27, 2014, from the Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province.

Recently, intense heat has occurred over a wide area, raising the risk of forest fires to alarm levels IV and V (dangerous and extremely dangerous). Various sectors, levels of government, and forest owners have made strenuous efforts and shown determination in effectively preventing and fighting forest fires. Since May 14th, forest fires have continuously occurred, causing damage to forests, state property, and people's property. Particularly noteworthy is the forest fire on May 25th, 2014, in Bao Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, which resulted in one death and one injury. Given the still complex and unpredictable weather situation, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requests that the directors of provincial departments, heads of provincial agencies; members of the Provincial Steering Committee for Forest Protection and Development; chairmen of district, city, and town People's Committees; heads of relevant agencies and units; and forest owners immediately implement the following urgent tasks:

1. The Provincial Police Department is assigned to take the lead and coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and other relevant agencies and units to strictly implement the directives of the Provincial People's Committee in Document No. 3441/UBND-NN dated May 24, 2014, and to promptly investigate and clarify the causes of forest fires in order to strictly handle them in accordance with the law.

2. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development shall directly supervise the localities where forest fires occur, organizing meetings to review and learn from each fire incident, clarify the responsibilities of relevant collectives and individuals, and take appropriate disciplinary action or submit the case to the competent authority for timely disciplinary action.

3. Strictly implement Official Dispatch No. 01/CĐ-BNN-TCLN dated January 3, 2014 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Directive No. 04/CT-TTg dated March 5, 2014 of the Prime Minister; and Directive No. 07/CT-UBND dated April 24, 2014 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on strengthening urgent measures for forest fire prevention and control.

4. Intensify the dissemination of information and warnings about forest fire risk levels through mass media to ensure strict implementation of forest fire prevention and control measures. Assign the Forest Protection Department to take the lead and coordinate with Nghe An Radio and Television Station and Nghe An Newspaper to carry out this task.

5. Strictly adhere to the 24/7 duty roster at fire watchtowers and permanent offices of the Command Boards at all levels, to ensure a rapid response and rescue in case of forest fires.

6. Forest firefighting forces at all levels should prepare and implement the "four on-the-spot" plan for forest firefighting effectively, specifically: human resources, machinery and equipment, technical tools, and logistics for forest firefighting operations.

7. Ensure absolute safety and prevent forest fires in areas of special importance such as the Nui Chung Special Use Forest (Nam Dan), Nui Quyet Forest Park, Cuong Temple area (Dien Chau), and Corn Temple area (Quynh Luu); forest management units, forest ranger stations, and commune People's Committees must deploy forces to guard checkpoints and strictly control people entering and leaving the forest, strictly prohibiting the use of fire, explosives, and flammable materials near and within the forest.

8. Strengthen the inspection of the implementation of forest fire prevention and control plans at the district, commune, and forest owner levels, detect and strictly handle organizations and individuals violating regulations on forest fire prevention and control to deter and educate for prevention.

9. Upon detecting a forest fire, the forest owner, local authorities, and forest ranger unit must quickly mobilize local forces and resources to extinguish the fire, preventing it from spreading. The organization of forest firefighting must ensure technical procedures and absolute safety for personnel, preventing accidents.

10. Strictly implement the daily forest fire reporting regime, following the mechanism of subordinates reporting to superiors. The Forest Protection Department will compile reports and submit them to the Provincial People's Committee and the Central State Steering Committee on Forest Protection and Development.

Upon receiving this directive, directors of departments; heads of provincial agencies; members of the Provincial Steering Committee for Forest Protection and Development; chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns; heads of relevant agencies and units; and forest management units are requested to seriously implement it. Any locality where forest fires occur and fail to take timely and effective preventive measures, causing significant damage to the forest, will hold the chairman of the People's Committee and the head of the forest management unit fully responsible before the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Chairperson:

Nguyen Xuan Duong