Forest safety during Tet holiday
In recent times, authorities from the city level down to communes, wards, and special forest areas have paid particular attention to forest fire prevention and control. On January 26, 2026, the Department of Agriculture and Environment issued document No. 926 on strengthening forest protection and fire prevention and control before, during, and after the Lunar New Year of 2026. From the end of 2025 to the beginning of March 2026, no forest fire hotspots occurred in the city. The number of forest fires decreased significantly compared to 2024, partly due to the humid and rainy weather conditions, but more importantly, due to proactive prevention efforts.
According to Pham Quyet Thang, Deputy Head of Forest Ranger District 3 ( Hai Phong Forest Protection Department), the unit manages forest areas in 13 communes and wards in the former Kinh Mon and Thuy Nguyen districts, covering over 2,400 hectares. During the period of 2024-2025, this area experienced several major forest fires. Particularly in late 2024, fires occurred consecutively at Ba Phu Mountain, Lai Xuan commune (formerly), covering 2.1 hectares; at Da Vach Mountain, Ky Son commune (formerly), covering 3.7 hectares; and at Son Dao Mountain in Thuy Duong and Thuy Son communes (formerly), covering 17.2 hectares. However, thanks to enhanced coordination between forest rangers and local authorities, along with increased awareness campaigns and inspections in high-risk areas, no forest fires occurred in the area during the Lunar New Year of 2026.
In Viet Khe commune, which has 414 hectares of forest, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee Pham Van Kim said that since implementing the two-tiered local government model, the locality has developed a plan for forest fire prevention and control, and also organized drills on how to handle fires when they occur.
During the Lunar New Year holiday, the commune focused on raising public awareness, especially in dry weather conditions. All villages had readily available fire-fighting equipment such as hoes, rakes, and shovels to handle any incidents. Particularly, in the period before Tet, when people visited ancestral graves, the authorities encouraged people to limit the burning of votive paper, ensuring safety and preventing fires from spreading into the forest.
Don't be complacent or negligent.
Despite positive results during the Lunar New Year, authorities believe the risk of forest fires remains, especially during the upcoming Thanh Minh festival. This is a time when many people visit graves, clean cemeteries, clear weeds, and burn votive paper. If fire sources are not properly controlled, the potential risk of forest fires is quite high.
According to Pham Quyet Thang, Deputy Head of Forest Ranger District 3 (Hai Phong Forest Protection Department), in the coming time, forest rangers will continue to develop specific forest fire prevention plans, and at the same time coordinate with the police, military and local authorities to issue guiding documents and disseminate information to people to effectively implement forest fire prevention and control.
Furthermore, communes, wards, and special zones with forests must strictly fulfill their responsibilities in state management regarding forest protection and forest fire prevention and control. It is necessary to detect, control, and extinguish forest fires early and in the shortest possible time, preventing large-scale fires. Many measures are being implemented simultaneously to protect existing forest areas and minimize the risk of forest fires during the dry season.
Local authorities have also established forest fire prevention teams at the grassroots level and intensified inspections of the forest areas under their management. Local authorities will strictly handle any violations of regulations on forest fire prevention and control that cause forest fires.
The Forest Protection Department advises people to absolutely refrain from burning fields, garbage, beehives, or votive offerings in and around forests without permission. When using fire for daily life or production near forest areas, someone must be present to supervise, fire extinguishing equipment must be prepared, and the fire must be completely extinguished after use.
During the current dry season, the proactive approach and vigilance of each individual remain the most important "shield" to prevent forest fires. Forest owners and households contracted to protect forests strictly adhere to regulations on forest fire prevention and control. Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, a forest farmer in Ham Long residential area, Thuy Nguyen ward, shared that his family has been cultivating 6.9 hectares of forest for over 20 years, so they are always aware of their responsibility to protect the forest. Every year, before the dry season, he proactively hires people to clear undergrowth around his family's forest to minimize the risk of fire spreading.
In reality, when the government, forest rangers, and the people all raise their awareness and sense of responsibility, forest fire prevention will be more effective. Keeping the forest safe also means protecting the ecological environment and the long-term livelihoods of the community.
According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the total forest area of the city is 21,554 hectares. Of this, forested area reaches 20,711 hectares, including 10,164 hectares of natural forest (49%) and 10,547 hectares of planted forest (51%). Forests are distributed in 35 out of 114 communes, wards, and special zones, mainly concentrated in areas such as Cat Ba Island, Chi Linh, Kinh Mon, Thuy Nguyen, and Tien Lang (formerly). The forest cover rate in 2024 is expected to reach 6.5% of the total natural land area of the city.
Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/khong-de-chay-rung-538228.html
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