Proactively prevent and fight forest fires in the dry season

Dong Cuong commune currently manages more than 8,800 hectares of forested land, including more than 3,200 hectares of natural forest, more than 4,877 hectares of planted forest and nearly 790 hectares of unforested forest; the forest coverage rate is 55.22%. This is an area with a large forest area and a high risk of fire, but thanks to good prevention work, since the beginning of the year, there has been no forest fire in the commune.

Mr. Tran Thong Nhat - Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee said: After the merger, the commune quickly completed the Steering Committee of the Forestry Development Program and established the Commune Forest Fire Prevention and Fighting Team (PCCCR), establishing 26 PCCCR teams in villages with 156 members. Along with that, the commune built operating regulations, assigned specific tasks, issued directive documents, reviewed high-risk forest fire points to proactively respond. Thanks to that, patrol and inspection work in the commune was maintained regularly. Forest protection teams in villages and hamlets strictly implemented the duty and patrol regime according to the contract; promptly detected and prevented illegal clearing of vegetation and slash-and-burn practices.

To be proactive in forest fire prevention and control during the dry season of the 2025-2026 crop year, the Van Yen - Tran Yen - Yen Bai Forest Protection Department has directed forest ranger stations to be on duty 24/7, ensuring 50% of the staff on duty. The units closely monitor forest fire forecasts on the early warning system at Kiemlam.org.vn and the software to detect suspected forest fire points.

Mr. Dinh Trung Ha - Head of the Forest Protection Department of Van Yen - Tran Yen - Yen Bai said: "The local forest ranger force is arranged in accordance with the forest area of each commune; communes with large forest areas are arranged with 4 - 5 officers, communes with small forest areas are arranged with 1 - 2 officers. During the dry season, the patrol teams patrol once or twice a day, closely follow the area, propagate and guide people on safe farming, when it is allowed to burn the ground cover... to detect and promptly handle the risk of forest fires".

Thanks to that, people's awareness of forest protection has been raised. Ms. Tran Hai Van - Head of Yen Thai village, Mau A commune said: "Forest fire prevention and control work in Yen Thai village is carried out closely. When seeing households exploiting cinnamon or having a high risk of forest fires, the village authorities directly come to remind people not to bring flammable materials into the forest. Therefore, in the past time, there have been no forest fires in Yen Thai village."

Lao Cai is one of the localities with large forest areas in the country. To proactively prevent and control forest fires, associated with forest management, protection and development at the grassroots level, the Provincial Forest Protection Department always arranges enough forest rangers in charge of the area in the communes, while maintaining regular coordination between the forest rangers, police, army and local authorities according to the motto "protecting forests at the root"; strengthen inspection, supervision, control, detection, prevention and timely handling of violations of forest protection laws.

Since the beginning of the year, the Provincial Forest Protection Department and localities and villages in the province have organized 1,732 meetings to disseminate information on forest protection and forest fire prevention and control for 157,680 people to participate. The province has established and reorganized 2,118 forest protection teams in villages and hamlets and 85 forest fire prevention and control teams at the commune level, creating a widespread forest protection network.

Mr. Vu Minh Phuc - Deputy Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department said: "The Department has directed the regional forest rangers to proactively develop a fire prevention and control plan right from the beginning of the season according to the "4 on-site" motto. Local forest rangers must directly go to villages and hamlets to coordinate with forest protection teams to guide people in safe production during the dry season, especially in key areas with high risk of fire. Especially, during prolonged hot weather, local forest rangers are on duty 24/7 in high-risk communes to promptly warn, report and mobilize forces when forest fires occur."

It is known that since the beginning of the year, there have been 4 forest fires in the province with a total area of 0.59 hectares of natural forest and 0.98 hectares of unforested trees. Forest protection and fire prevention and control are not only urgent tasks in the dry season, but also a long-term responsibility of the entire political system and the people. With great determination, Lao Cai strives to protect and maintain the green color of the forests, maintaining a stable forest cover rate of over 60%.

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