Strengthen urgent measures to prevent and fight forest fires

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

Recently, extremely hot weather has occurred on a large scale, the risk of forest fires has been at level IV and V (dangerous and extremely dangerous levels); all sectors, levels and forest owners have made efforts and determination to do a good job in forest fire prevention and fighting. From May 14 until now, forest fires have continuously occurred, causing damage to forests, state and people's properties. In particular, the forest fire on May 25, 2014 in Bao Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district caused 1 death and 1 injury. In the face of the still complicated and unpredictable weather situation, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the directors of departments, heads of provincial-level departments and branches; members of the Provincial Steering Committee for Forest Protection and Development; Chairmen of People's Committees of districts, cities and towns; heads of relevant agencies and units and forest owners to immediately carry out the following urgent tasks:

1. Assign the Provincial Police to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant agencies and units to strictly implement the direction of the Provincial People's Committee in Official Dispatch No. 3441/UBND-NN dated May 24, 2014, promptly investigate and clarify the causes of forest fires for strict handling in accordance with the provisions of the Law.

2. Assign the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to directly organize meetings in localities where forest fires occur to review and learn from each fire incident and clarify the responsibilities of relevant groups and individuals to handle responsibilities or submit to competent authorities for timely handling of responsibilities.

3. Strictly implement Official Dispatch No. 01/CD-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; Directive No. 07/CT-UBND dated April 24, 2014 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on strengthening urgent measures to prevent and fight forest fires.

4. Strengthen propaganda and warning of forest fire forecasts on mass media to strictly implement forest fire prevention and control measures. Assign the Forest Protection Department to preside over and coordinate with Nghe An Radio and Television Station and Nghe An Newspaper to implement.

5. Strictly comply with the 24/7 duty regime at the fire watchtower and the standing office of the Command Committee at all levels to quickly respond and rescue forest fire situations.

6. Forest firefighting forces at all levels prepare and deploy well the 4 on-site plans for forest firefighting, specifically: human resources, machinery, technical tools, and logistics for forest firefighting.

7. Ensure absolute safety and prevent forest fires in forests of special importance such as Nui Chung special-use forest (Nam Dan), Nui Quyet forest park, Den Cuong area (Dien Chau), Den Con area (Quynh Luu); forest owners, forest rangers, and commune People's Committees must arrange forces to guard and block off, strictly control people entering and leaving the forest, and strictly prohibit the use of fire, explosives, and flammable substances on the edge of the forest and inside the forest.

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

9. When a forest fire is detected, the forest owner, local authorities and forest rangers must quickly mobilize forces and means on the spot to extinguish the fire, preventing it from becoming a larger fire. In organizing forest fire fighting, technical procedures must be followed, absolute safety for people must be ensured, and accidents must not occur.

10. Strictly implement the daily forest fire reporting regime, according to the mechanism of lower levels reporting to higher levels. The Forest Protection Department synthesizes reports to the Provincial People's Committee and the Central Steering Committee for Forest Protection and Development.

Upon receiving this telegram, the directors of departments; heads of provincial-level departments; members of the Provincial Steering Committee for Forest Protection and Development; Chairmen of People's Committees of districts, cities and towns; heads of relevant agencies and units and forest owners shall strictly implement it. In any locality where a forest fire occurs and fails to promptly take effective measures to prevent it, causing great damage to the forest, the Chairman of the People's Committee and the Head of the forest owner shall bear full responsibility before the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Chairperson:

Nguyen Xuan Duong