Efforts to implement forest fire prevention solutions

After Typhoon Yagi, in Quang Ninh province, about 117,000 hectares of forest were damaged from 30-100%. Most of the damaged forest area was planted forest with pine, acacia, eucalyptus trees... with broken trunks, uprooted, broken branches... Notably, 100% of the damaged trees had their leaves stripped off. This, combined with the dry weather, along with some subjective reasons of forest owners in the process of collecting and treating damaged forests, led to a very high potential risk of forest fires.

To promptly overcome the damage caused by the storm, and at the same time minimize the situation of forest fires, forest fires and related environmental consequences that directly affect socio-economic activities in the area, Quang Ninh has strengthened urgent measures on forest fire prevention and fighting.

Forces participating in fighting the forest fire in areas from zone 5 to zone 7, Hong Ha ward, Ha Long city on the evening of October 4. Photo: Thanh Tung

In particular, forest owners in the area have made efforts to fulfill their responsibilities according to the law on forest protection management, forest use and forest fire prevention and fighting, reporting forest changes in the managed area, especially for the area damaged by storm Yagi. Local authorities have coordinated with the Forest Protection Department and relevant agencies to strengthen patrolling and inspection of the establishment and implementation of forest protection management, forest use and forest fire prevention and fighting plans, and reporting forest changes by forest owners for the entire damaged area. At the same time, proactively mobilize all resources to effectively implement forest protection management and forest fire prevention and fighting in the area according to the law.

In particular, the Forest Protection Department has closely monitored weather developments, maintained forecasts of high risk of forest fires to promptly inform localities, especially in Ha Long, Cam Pha, Van Don, Ba Che areas... so that localities can proactively implement forest fire prevention and fighting plans. The unit also increased its regular patrol force, coordinated with forest owners to guard against forest fires in key forests, forests that carry out vegetation treatment and harvest, clean up forests after storms, and have a high risk of fire to have effective preventive measures. At the same time, the Mobile Forest Protection and Forest Fire Prevention and Fighting Team has been consolidated and improved to ensure sufficient quantity, expertise, technical means, and essential logistics, on duty 24/24 hours a day, ready to respond to all forest fire situations...

Along with that, localities and relevant agencies also effectively implemented forest fire warning work in the province, closely monitored the forest fire warning information system, and issued forest fire warning bulletins throughout the province.

Despite many efforts, the forest fire situation in Quang Ninh province is showing signs of complexity. Areas of acacia, eucalyptus, and pine trees with broken trunks, fallen or uprooted are unlikely to recover, especially the broken trees are gradually drying out, breaking the previous fire prevention design, so many forest fires have occurred in the province recently. According to statistics from the Quang Ninh Provincial Forest Protection Department, from September 28 to now, the whole province has had 8 production forest fires. Of which, Van Don district had 3 cases, Cam Pha city had 2 cases, Ba Che district had 1 case, Ha Long city had 1 case, Mong Cai city had 1 case, causing more than 50 hectares of forest to be burned.

On October 1, the Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 2832/UBND-KTTC to launch a 30-day and night peak period to support forest clearance, sanitation, and the collection and utilization of forest products in damaged forest areas. Implementing the province's direction, localities are actively clearing and collecting forest products after the storm. At the same time, forces are deployed to promptly detect and extinguish fires. People's Committees at all levels and functional agencies of the province have strictly implemented their responsibilities in managing forest fire prevention and fighting; strengthening inspection and supervision of forest fire prevention and fighting early and from afar, and considering this a key and continuous task.

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