Proactively forecast forest fires in hot season

A forest fire drill at Son Tra Peninsula by the City Forest Protection Department. Photo: HUYNH LE

For example, on May 9, the City Forest Protection Department continued to issue forest fire forecast information, thereby warning that from May 9 to 13, Da Nang will continue to have widespread heat and severe heat, with temperatures at 1 p.m. ranging from 35-37 degrees Celsius, with some places above 37 degrees Celsius, with the risk of forest fires at level 4 (dangerous level, with the possibility of widespread forest fires). Through this notice, the department requested the People's Committees of districts, wards, and communes to closely monitor the implementation of forest fire prevention and fighting measures; strictly prohibiting the use of fire to treat vegetation.

At the same time, request the forest rangers and forest management boards to inform the agencies, units and communities in the forested areas about forest fire forecasts to prepare human resources, means and fire fighting equipment; promptly report the forest fire situation to the People's Committees of districts and the forest rangers' sub-department. Combine monitoring and inspection of forest owners in compliance with forest fire prevention and fighting regulations; coordinate with the management boards of eco-tourism areas to monitor and remind tourists to pay attention to safety in using fire when visiting and traveling in the forest; strictly handle violations of fire prevention and fighting.

Mr. Nguyen Phu Tuan, Deputy Head of the City Forest Protection Department, said that this is the 5th forest fire forecast bulletin in 2025 and this work will continue to be strengthened in the coming time. In 2024, the department will issue 21 forest fire forecast bulletins from levels 3 and 4, mainly focusing on the months of April, May, June, and July. According to Mr. Tuan, forest fire forecasting work during the hot season is carried out continuously, updated regularly, in accordance with weather developments and the actual situation in the forested area.

“Doing a good job of forest fire forecasting not only helps local authorities and functional forces proactively respond, but also raises public awareness. Not to mention, early forecast information creates a basis for activating prevention plans, minimizing damage from forest fires,” Mr. Tuan emphasized.

In Hoa Vang district, a locality with a forest area of ​​55,378.5 hectares and a forest coverage of 69.14%, forest fire prevention and fighting work is taking place urgently. Mr. Ngo Tan Su, Deputy Head of the Hoa Vang District Forest Protection Department, said that the forest fire warning bulletin is an "urgent signal" for the unit to promptly and synchronously deploy response measures. "Upon receiving the level 4 warning bulletin, we immediately sent forest rangers to closely monitor key areas, coordinate with the forest management board, militia, and commune police to inspect the scene, check for fire-prone areas, and remind people not to use fire near the forest," said Mr. Su.

It is known that Hoa Vang district currently has 8 steering committees, 8 commune-level shock troops; 42 groups and mass teams for forest protection and forest fire prevention and fighting with more than 500 participants. During the hottest days, the team is on duty 24/7 and is equipped with blowers, sprayers, knives, hoes, shovels... to be ready to handle situations. In fact, in recent years, thanks to strengthening forecasting and timely implementation of forest fire prevention and fighting measures, Da Nang has minimized the number of forest fires and damaged forest areas. However, with the trend of extreme weather due to climate change, forest fire forecasting should not only stop at warning but also become a core part of the city's sustainable forest protection strategy.

In recent times, the department has carried out forest fire forecasting based on the synthesis and analysis of weather data, drought index, humidity, wind speed and vegetation status in each area. From there, a forest fire warning map is built according to each level and specific zoning. In particular, in 2025, the department will strengthen coordination with specialized units, apply digital technology , and gradually modernize forest fire forecasting and monitoring. According to Mr. Tuan, with a large forest area and a long hot season, Da Nang has determined that forest fire forecasting plays an important role in the chain of prevention, readiness, response and recovery after forest fires. This is not only a technical requirement but also a long-term responsibility to protect the ecosystem and maintain the green lungs of the city.

HUYNH LE

Source: https://baodanang.vn/xa-hoi/202505/chu-dong-du-bao-chay-rung-mua-nang-nong-4006451/