Ensure forest fire prevention and fighting plans

With the motto "Prevention is the key, timely fire fighting", the province has issued a Plan to coordinate forces participating in forest fire prevention and fighting (PCCC) to proactively prepare human resources, means, equipment, and logistics for timely and effective forest fire prevention and fighting activities; promote the role and responsibility of Party committees, authorities, departments, branches, units and forest owners in forest fire prevention and fighting.

Vinh Phuc has all three types of forests (protection, special-use, production), with a total area of nearly 37,000 hectares and forestry land, contributing to watershed protection, environmental protection, conservation of animal and plant genetic resources, and scientific research.

In addition, forests also play an important role in socio-economic development such as providing forest products for local needs and serving the security and defense purposes of the province.

In fact, most of the province's forest area is primary forest located along the Tam Dao mountain range with steep slopes and thick vegetation. In addition, there are also forest areas planted under the PAM project and the 327 project, which are highly flammable forest areas, always in a state of level 4 and level 5 (extremely dangerous) in the dry season. In particular, the forest area of Tam Dao National Park is one of the most flammable forest areas in the country.

Typically, in early January 2025, at around 3:20 p.m., a forest fire broke out in the Dinh Mountain area of Tam Duong district. After discovering the incident, the forest owner and local authorities mobilized local forces to fight the forest fire, and at the same time reported to the Tam Duong District People's Committee, the Tam Dao - Tam Duong Inter-District Forest Protection Department, and the Tam Duong District Military Command, mobilizing more than 170 people and many vehicles to participate in fighting the forest fire.

With the efforts of the authorities and local people, by 6:30 p.m. the same day, the fire was extinguished, the burned area was over 1 hectare. During the process of extinguishing the forest fire, the safety of people, vehicles, and firefighting equipment was ensured.

Officers of the Forest Protection Department of Phuc Yen City apply technology in forest patrol work. Photo: The Hung

Recently, there have been many forest fires across the country, some of which have not only caused heavy damage to forest areas but also tragic human losses.

Identifying forest fire prevention and control as the responsibility of the entire political system and society, the Provincial Forest Protection Department has been strengthening propaganda, dissemination and education on laws on forest protection and forest fire prevention and control to raise awareness of people and forest owners, minimizing damage to people, property, resources and impacts on the living environment.

At the same time, strengthen inspection and direct the effective implementation of forest management and protection, synchronously implement solutions, handle and prevent illegal acts of cutting, destroying, encroaching, occupying and exploiting forests.

Inspect, urge and guide forest owners to effectively implement forest fire prevention and protection measures in assigned forest areas. Guide and urge Forest Protection Departments to effectively implement forest monitoring software (FMS); regularly update forest developments according to regulations.

Provide accounts on the Provincial Forest Monitoring System for Group II forest owners; notify and urge Group II forest owners (Tam Dao National Park, Northeast Forestry Science Center...) to check and verify forest change warning points and forest fire warning points in the assigned forest area.

Along with that, coordinate with the Forest Protection Department of Region 1 to build a 7-day/period Forest Fire Warning and promptly inform the Forest Fire Prevention and Control Command Committee, forest protection of districts, cities, communes and forest owners.

Urge subordinate units to inspect and review the use of works, propaganda bulletin boards, equipment and machinery serving forest fire prevention and fighting. Direct subordinate departments and units to ensure regular duty, guarding, controlling forest fires and being ready with forces and means to respond to forest fires.

According to the forecast of the functional sector, in 2025, the ENSO phenomenon will continue to be maintained, the temperature will tend to be higher than every year, especially the drought and local heat will occur, leading to the risk of forest fires always being latent at a high level (level 4, level 5), especially in old-growth forests with thick vegetation.

Prepare forces, means, and equipment for forest fire prevention and fighting, promptly support localities in handling large, prolonged, and out-of-control forest fires. In the coordination plan for forces participating in forest fire prevention and fighting, the province requires People's Committees at all levels to be responsible for disseminating knowledge and laws on forest fire prevention and fighting in localities according to the provisions of law through conferences, specialized meetings on forest fire prevention and fighting and other conferences, meetings with residents living near forests. Build, consolidate, and supplement the system of forest fire prevention and fighting works.

Along with that, invest in forest fire prevention equipment and facilities; manage combustible materials, use fire and implement silvicultural measures in forest fire prevention. Strengthen forest fire safety inspections before and during the dry season; regularly monitor forest fire forecast levels and forest fire early warnings on the Forest Ranger website...

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