Proactively prevent and fight forest fires during the peak dry season

Authorities inspect forest fire prevention and fighting work at Nui Cau protective forest (Dau Tieng district)

Strictly implement fire safety regulations

Implementing Plan No. 38/KH-KL-QS-CA dated January 15, 2025 of the Provincial Forest Protection Department on coordinating the inspection of forest fire prevention and fighting safety (PCCCR) in 2025, the Department coordinated with the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of the Provincial Police, the Provincial Military Command and related units to inspect the implementation of PCCCR phase 1-2025 for forest owners including the Nui Cau - Dau Tieng Protective Forest Management Board, An Lap Forest (Dau Tieng District Forest Protection Department), Bau Bang Forestry Experimental Station (Southeast Forestry Experimental Research Center), Binh Duong Agriculture and Forestry Joint Stock Company and Tan Phu Forestry Experimental Station (Southern Forestry Science and Technology Application Center).

Mr. Nguyen Van O, Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department, said that through the inspection, all forest owners strictly implemented fire safety conditions for the forests managed by the unit. Specifically, forest owners have regulations and rules on fire prevention and fighting; there are signs and fire prohibition signs placed at prescribed locations, suitable for the characteristics and nature of forest fires; there is a fire prevention and fighting plan according to the provisions of Article 45 of Decree No. 156 of the Government; fire prevention and fighting works suitable for the characteristics and nature of the forest, such as water reservoirs, water tanks, firebreaks, fire watchtowers, etc. In addition, all units are equipped with fire prevention and fighting means and tools suitable for the characteristics and nature of each type of forest according to the fire prevention and fighting plan; the fire prevention and fighting force is organized on a permanent basis, ready to meet the requirements of on-site fire fighting; at the same time, there are records of management and monitoring of fire prevention and fighting activities according to regulations.

Regarding the forest owners' responsibilities for fire prevention and fighting, they must implement regulations, rules, safety conditions, and fire prevention and fighting measures according to the provisions of law. Forest owners develop and promulgate regulations, rules, and fire prevention and fighting measures within the forest management area; develop and organize the implementation of fire prevention and fighting plans for the forest management area; invest in construction and purchase of fire prevention and fighting facilities, equipment, and tools.

In addition, forest owners must plan and report changes related to ensuring fire safety within their management scope to the forest rangers, the Fire Police and Rescue Department and the direct management agency. Forest owners must coordinate with local authorities, relevant agencies and organizations to effectively ensure fire safety; not cause fire hazards to neighboring forests, agencies, organizations and households; and carry out fire safety activities when requested by competent authorities.

Strengthen coordination and inspection

According to the Provincial Forest Protection Department, in addition to the achieved results, there are still difficulties and limitations in forest fire prevention and control. The reason is that the forests in localities in the province are mostly scattered, not concentrated in a large area; along with that, the specialized forest rangers and forest protection forces are still thin, so patrols are only carried out regularly and continuously in key areas. For the Nui Cau protective forest (Dau Tieng district), which is a very vulnerable upstream protective forest, in addition to large evergreen trees, there are also deciduous dipterocarp forests (seasonally deciduous broadleaf forests) with deciduous trees mixed with le trees and stone bamboo, so in the dry season these layers of vegetation increase the risk of forest fires very high. At the same time, this forest has Thoi Son pagoda, pilgrims often visit the pagoda, especially during festivals, using incense and paper fires, etc., so management and forest fire prevention and control face many difficulties.

Mr. Nguyen Van O said that the Provincial Forest Protection Department has requested forest owners to continue to deploy and strictly implement the fire prevention and control plan; at the same time, supplement and revise the fire prevention and control plan for contents that have changed but not to the extent of fundamentally changing the content of the fire prevention and control plan. When there are major fundamental changes that affect the content of the plan, it is necessary to re-develop and approve it. In addition, forest owners need to closely coordinate with localities and local forest protection agencies to regularly patrol, inspect, urge and remind organizations, households and individuals who are contracted to strictly implement fire prevention and control work and strictly handle organizations and individuals who lack a sense of responsibility in fire prevention and control work and deforestation.

Along with that, the Provincial Forest Protection Department requested units and forest owners to regularly inspect and closely monitor forest fire prevention and control teams, organizations and individuals assigned to manage and protect forests; ensure sufficient and permanent staff 24/7 at key locations, strictly control people entering and leaving the forest, not allowing people to arbitrarily enter the forest and use fire in the forest; continue to coordinate with local authorities, through the loudspeaker system, to propagate measures on safe use of fire in production and daily life for people living in the forest and near the forest. In particular, Binh Duong Agriculture and Forestry Joint Stock Company closely coordinates with the People's Committee of Tam Lap Commune, Tan Uyen - Phu Giao Forest Protection Department to regularly patrol, inspect, urge and remind contracted organizations to seriously implement forest fire prevention and control work and strictly handle individuals and organizations lacking a sense of responsibility in forest fire prevention and control work and deforestation.

The provincial Forest Protection Department requires forest management units to regularly maintain and service fire prevention and fighting vehicles and equipment to ensure readiness to fight fires when incidents occur; add warning signs, fire prohibition signs and fire fighting equipment. For areas with tourists, the department requests that functional forces regularly remind, propagate and instruct visitors not to use flammable and explosive items at tourist attractions to ensure forest fire prevention and fighting.

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Source: https://baobinhduong.vn/chu-dong-phong-chong-chay-rung-cao-diem-mua-kho-a344115.html