Slash-and-burn in dry season poses high risk of forest fire. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 4issued a dispatch ordering localities, ministries, and agencies to strengthenforest fire prevention and control measures.
The move is made as unusual hot weather is baking the southern and Central Highlands regions as well as some northern provinces, causing high risk of fire for many forests at dangerous and extremely dangerous levels. Forest fires have beenoccurring continuously in Lao Cai, Son La, Yen Bai provinces in the north, Khanh Hoa in the central region,Dak Nong, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum in the Central Highlands, and Kien Giang in the south.
According to the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting,due to the impact of climate change and the El Ninophenomenon, in 2024 severe heat waves will appear in many localities, withhigher temperatures than in 2023. Severe hot weather and falling rainfalls posea high risk of forest fires in many places, causing damage to forests and theenvironment, and affecting the people’s health, property, and lives.
A forest fire in Mu Cang Chai district, the northern province of Yen Bai. (Photo: VNA broadcasts)To proactively prevent and combat forest fires and minimisedamage caused by forest fires, the PM requests the Chairpersons of People'sCommittees of provinces and centrally-run cities to direct urgent measures, making the work a key task in the time being.
People's Committees at all levels and relevantagencies are required to strictly enforce forest fire prevention and control and intensify inspection and supervision.
They are asked to develop specific, detailed fire preventionand control plans, arrange staff and resources for the work, review and make alist of forests at high risk of fire.
The PM also assigns tasks to ministries and asks the mass media tofurther popularise information about forest fire prevention and control,especially fire warnings and forecasting./.
