Strengthen urgent measures to prevent and fight forest fires

Intense heat and dryness have currently appeared on a large scale, especially in the central region. The risk of forest fires is very high in many localities. Many forests are at level V forest fire warning level (extreme dangerous level).

Recently, forest fires have already occurred in some localities: Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Thua Thien Hue... causing damage to the forest and environment, affecting the lives of people in the area.

In the near future, the dryness situation will take place in many more localities; the alarm about forest fires is being set at the highest level now. The Prime Minister has requested ministries, branches and localities to urgently direct the implementation of several key tasks.

People's Committees of provinces and cities have directed the People's Committees at all levels and functional agencies to strictly implement their management duties for forest fire prevention and fighting, strengthen inspection and supervision on forest fire prevention and fighting, consider this as the main task.

The Prime Minister requested localities to re-check forces, means of transport, supplies and funds to well implement the motto "Four “on the spot"; assign force to be on duty 24/24 hours during the dry season; arrange checkpoints, patrol and guard in key areas prone to forest fires, strictly control people entering and leaving forest areas with a high risk of forest fires; promptly detect fire spots, mobilize forces to participate in controlling and extinguishing forest fires in the shortest time, preventing large fires from occurring.

In addition, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda and education to raise awareness and responsibility concerning forest fire prevention and fighting, and regularly monitor forest fire warning information on the early fire warning information system of the Department of Forest Protection.

Regarding the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Prime Minister requested to coordinate with other ministries and localities to strengthen direction and inspection of forest fire prevention and fighting in localities and key areas; promote the high technology application in forecasting and warning the risk and early detecting forest fires, ready to support localities when big forest fires occur.

Additionally, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security also take the initiative in supporting plans to fight forest fires in the areas where units are stationed, and at the same time mobilize forces, vehicles to fight forest fires when required. And media agencies need to do well propaganda on forest fire prevention and fighting.

According to the forecast of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the average temperature in 2021 will be 1°C to 2°C higher than the average for many years, specifically: three or four heatwaves may occur in July and August, the temperature may be over 40°C in some locations, and the prolonged dry condition may lead to a great risk of forest fires.