Guarding the forest against wildfires amidst the scorching heat of Central Vietnam.

According to forecasts, 2026 will continue to be a year of intense, localized heatwaves. To proactively manage forest fire prevention and control, the Quang Tri Forest Protection Department has advised the Department of Agriculture and Environment to submit to the Provincial People's Committee numerous directives related to forest fire prevention and control, demonstrating the highest level of proactiveness.

Amidst the scorching heat of central Vietnam, forest rangers are intensifying patrols and inspecting key areas at high risk of wildfires.

However, due to the prolonged extreme weather conditions, relatively large forest fires have occurred in some localities in Quang Tri province . Currently, the authorities are continuing to investigate and verify the causes and clarify any related violations.

In this context, along with the increasingly extreme impacts of climate change, the work of forest fire prevention and control in Quang Tri is no longer limited to "fighting fires," but is strongly shifting towards a principle of prioritizing prevention, with firefighting requiring decisive action and a coordinated approach involving multiple solutions.

According to the Quang Tri province's forest fire prevention and control plan for the period 2025-2030, the province currently has over 841,000 hectares of forest, of which approximately 250,000 hectares are identified as having a high risk of fire, concentrated in areas of planted acacia, pine, and casuarina forests along the coast and degraded natural forests interspersed with reeds, bamboo, and other vegetation.

Specifically, approximately 96,441 hectares have been identified as key areas prone to forest fires. Within this area, large sections of pine forests and production plantations are entering a peak fire risk period due to thick, dry undergrowth and the prolonged influence of the hot, dry winds from Laos.

Guarding the forest against wildfires amidst the scorching heat of Central Vietnam.

Amidst the scorching heat and hot winds from Laos, forest rangers remain stationed in their areas to detect potential forest fire risks early.

Over 250,000 hectares of forest at high risk of fire are entering the peak of the hot season with harsh winds from Laos. Instead of waiting for a fire to break out before responding, Quang Tri is strongly shifting towards a preventative approach, building forest protection scenarios at the grassroots level to preserve the greenery in a region heavily impacted by climate change.

The pressure is even greater because Quang Tri is located in an area frequently affected by the hot, dry southwest monsoon winds. During the peak of summer, temperatures often exceed 40 degrees Celsius, humidity drops sharply, vegetation dries up, and the forest fire warning index frequently reaches levels IV and V - the extremely dangerous level.

Amidst these harsh weather conditions, many forests in Quang Tri are almost always in a state of "red alert," especially the long-established planted forests in the coastal sandy areas. Although their reserves are low, they have very high protective value, with characteristic vegetation consisting of highly flammable dry grasses that spread very quickly. If a fire occurs, many hectares of long-established planted forest are at risk of "evaporating."

Mr. Pham Van Dang, head of the Thanh Xuan forest protection team under the Quang Trach Protective Forest Management Board, said that the most frightening thing for forest rangers is not when a fire breaks out, but the prolonged sunny days that turn the entire forest into "flammable material".

From their fire watchtowers, forest rangers strain to monitor for any unusual signs amidst the harsh Lao wind season.

“There were days when the temperature in the forest reached 39-40 degrees Celsius, so the firefighters had to bring drinking water, food, and firefighting equipment to stay at the watchtowers and checkpoints all day. Many routes required walking for kilometers to reach key areas,” Mr. Dang said.

According to Mr. Dang, in recent years, instead of being reactive in firefighting, the unit has shifted to proactively developing forest protection scenarios based on different risk levels. Key areas are regularly reviewed; undergrowth is cleared early; and personnel on duty, watchtowers, firebreaks, and water supply points are all inspected before the dry season.

Forest rangers trek through forests and wade through streams to patrol key areas at high risk of fire.

"If we can prevent it from the start, the damage will be greatly reduced. We believe that protecting forests must start from the roots, from the awareness of the people and from early warning systems," Mr. Dang shared.

Not only forest owners, but also local forest rangers are changing their management methods towards a more grassroots-oriented approach.

Hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest in Quang Tri province are on heightened alert amid the peak of the hot weather.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Lam, Head of the Quang Trach Forest Ranger Station, the forest ranger force is currently maintaining 100% of its personnel on duty. In addition to patrolling and inspecting the area, the force is also intensifying direct outreach to each village, hamlet, and group of households living near the forest.

"We have to go to each residential area to remind people not to clear vegetation with fire during the peak of the hot season. In some places, people still have the habit of burning beehives or fields, so the risk of forest fires is very high," Mr. Lam said.

After long journeys through the forest and up the mountains, the forest rangers take a short rest before continuing their patrol.

Because of the ever-present risk of fire, the Forest Protection Force, Police, Military , Border Guard, local authorities, forest owners, and other relevant forces are maintaining a 24/7 presence during peak hot weather periods to promptly detect and handle fire outbreaks from the outset.

Currently, the province has more than 1,330 community-based forest protection and fire prevention teams with nearly 11,900 participants; 80 fire watchtowers, 132 forest fire forecast boards, and more than 300 fire-fighting water supply points are located in key areas.

The pine forests in Quang Tri are entering a peak fire risk period during the dry season.

In particular, the "four on-site" principle continues to be considered a key solution in mountainous and forested terrain, where many areas are difficult for fire trucks to access.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Nam, Head of the Technical and Forest Management and Protection Department of Long Dai Forestry and Industrial Company Limited, said that the unit currently manages more than 83,915 hectares of forest, of which about 16,077 hectares of planted forest are identified as having a high risk of fire.

According to Mr. Nam, from the beginning of the year, the company has strengthened the Steering Committee for urgent issues on forest management, protection and fire prevention and control; developed forest protection plans from the company level to its branches, and identified key areas with high fire risk to focus on protection.

Patrolling through the forest is a daily routine for forest rangers during the hot season.

In addition, the unit organized the clearing of undergrowth and forest sanitation using controlled burning; prepared personnel, equipment, and tools; inspected and repaired forest fire prevention and control structures; and maintained patrols and surveillance 24/7 during peak hot weather to promptly detect and handle fire outbreaks, preventing fires from spreading over a wide area.

"The entire forest area is under contract for protection, with specific responsibilities assigned to specialized forces to proactively detect and prevent forest fire risks at the grassroots level," Mr. Nam said.

Fire watchtowers are maintained 24/7 during the peak of the hot season in Quang Tri.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Long, Head of the Quang Tri Forest Protection Department, given the consistently high risk of forest fires during the hot season, the entire Forest Protection force, forest owners, and related units are focusing intensely on forest fire prevention and control in accordance with directives and instructions from the Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Provincial People's Committee, and specialized agencies.

According to Mr. Long, the current focus is on maintaining standby forces, strengthening patrols and inspections in key areas; and at the same time, closely coordinating between the Forest Protection Department, the Police, the Military, the Border Guard, and local authorities to promptly detect and control fire outbreaks from the outset, minimizing damage.

"In addition to the personnel on duty at the facilities, we are also strengthening the application of technology in forest fire warning through the early warning information system of the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection and the system of surveillance cameras to detect forest fires early in the province, monitoring 24/7 and promptly handling when unusual temperature points appear," Mr. Long said.

In the midst of the scorching heat of central Vietnam, forest rangers work day and night to guard against fires, ensuring that the lush green of the forests is not lost.

According to Mr. Long, the development and implementation of forest fire prevention and control plans by local authorities at all levels and forest owners, based on the "four on-the-spot" principle—including on-the-spot command, on-the-spot forces, on-the-spot equipment, and on-the-spot logistics—continues to be identified as a key solution to enhance proactive forest fire prevention and control at the grassroots level.

"From the very beginning of the year, we have also issued specific guidelines on safe fire usage and requested forest owners, households, and people to strictly adhere to safety regulations and procedures when clearing vegetation or using fire during hot weather to minimize the risk of forest fires."

"I instruct the Forest Protection Departments to coordinate with local authorities and relevant forces to strengthen the dissemination of laws on forest fire prevention and control; resolutely investigate and strictly handle violations to enhance deterrence and prevention," Mr. Long emphasized.

Amidst the harsh dry season in Quang Tri, the forests are being guarded day by day, hour by hour. Protecting the forests during the hot, dry season has never been an easy task. But even during the scorching days in Central Vietnam, the proactive efforts of the Forest Rangers, forest owners, and other relevant agencies, starting early and from afar, are becoming a crucial "shield" to preserve the greenness of the mountains and forests.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/canh-lua-giu-rung-giua-chao-lua-mien-trung.html