Tighten fire prevention measures in every forest area.

An Giang is entering the peak of the dry season, and the risk of forest fires is at dangerous and extremely dangerous levels. Authorities are focusing on implementing various forest fire prevention and control measures to minimize potential damage.

Staff from Forest Protection Management Station No. 2, An Giang Forest Management Board, Area I, inspect the operation of firefighting equipment. Photo: THUY TRANG

According to the An Giang Forest Protection Department, the province currently has over 99,000 hectares of forest land, of which more than 82,800 hectares are forested, with a forest cover rate of 8.8%. Forests are distributed across 37 communes, wards, and special zones, mainly consisting of Melaleuca forests on acidic wetlands and hilly areas, which are at high risk of fire during the dry season.

Since the beginning of the year, due to the impact of climate change, the weather has been erratic, with intense heat and low humidity, causing many areas to maintain forest fire risk levels at IV (dangerous) and V (extremely dangerous), posing a very high risk of large-scale forest fires and rapid spread. A review has identified approximately 28 key forest areas in the province, covering over 32,000 hectares, with a high risk of fire. These areas are concentrated in regions such as melaleuca forests and mangrove forests in the communes of U Minh Thuong, An Minh, Van Khanh, Hon Dat, Binh Son, and Binh Giang; and hilly and mountainous forest areas in the communes of Co To, O Lam, Ba Chuc, Tinh Bien, Nui Cam, Oc Eo, and Thoai Son... These areas have dense vegetation that easily catches fire; many lack water sources, and the terrain is difficult to access, hindering firefighting efforts. During the harvest season, the practice of burning fields and clearing vegetation is common among farmers. In hot, dry weather conditions, this poses a very high risk of wildfires spreading into the forest.

According to Thai Van Nhan, Director of the An Giang Forest Management Board, Region II, many forest areas are currently at fire risk level V. To proactively prevent and control forest fires, the Forest Management Station has widely notified people to stop certain activities in the forest in areas prone to fire and where tourists frequently visit; posted fire prohibition signs and warning information in key fire-prone areas and areas with a high number of tourists and pilgrims. The unit has deployed 100% of its personnel to patrol and guard key areas with a high risk of fire.

In the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest Landscape Protection Area, the unit installed a 360-degree camera system for early warning of forest fires at the central observation tower; felled trees were cleared along the roads, creating favorable conditions for forest patrols and firefighting when fires occur. For the Tan Tuyen Melaleuca Forest Landscape Protection Area, the Management Board cleared a 3.75-hectare patrol route with a length of approximately 7.5 km to prevent the spread of fire; completed the dredging of 4 canals totaling 6.5 km, putting them into operation for forest fire prevention and control. At the same time, forces were assigned to patrol and strictly control the burning of fields and straw by people at the end of the winter-spring crop season, ensuring safety and preventing the spread of fire to forest trees along the dike and inside the forest.

Phu Quoc National Park has approximately 36,262 hectares of forest area stretching from the south to the north of Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, including over 29,500 hectares of special-use forest and over 6,600 hectares of protection forest. Located in a high-risk area for forest fires, Phu Quoc National Park is implementing many drastic measures to prevent and minimize the risk of forest fires. According to Deputy Director Nguyen Phu Nam, based on the forest fire prevention and control plan approved by the province, the unit has established four fire shelters and deployed patrol teams and personnel on duty 24/7 in key areas prone to fires, such as sub-area 53 of the Bai Thom Melaleuca forest special-use area and sub-area 68 of the Bai Bon Melaleuca forest; repaired and dug one new well, and dredged and expanded 15 existing wells to serve as water storage for forest fire prevention and control…

According to Tran Thanh Duoc, Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department, to improve the effectiveness of forest fire prevention and control, the forest protection force continues to coordinate with local authorities to strengthen inspections and urge forest management units to address shortcomings; and deploy personnel to be on duty 24/7 in high-risk areas. In addition, they are strengthening propaganda and control over the use of fire, strictly controlling the use of fire among the population, especially the burning of fields.

In the long term, relevant units need to invest in infrastructure serving forest fire prevention and control, such as water reservoirs, canals, ditches, pumping stations, firebreaks, and watchtowers. Simultaneously, they should gradually apply modern technologies such as early warning systems, surveillance cameras, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to enhance the capacity for detecting and responding to forest fires; prioritizing investment in the U Minh Thuong, An Minh, Van Khanh, Hon Dat areas and the hilly forest areas of Tri Ton, Tinh Bien, Nui Cam, Ba Chuc, O Lam, and Co To.

Since the beginning of the year, nine forest fires have occurred in the province, damaging approximately 14.5 hectares, mainly sparse melaleuca forests. The cause has been identified as careless use of fire by local people, especially during field burning and vegetation clearing during the harvest season.

THUY TRANG

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/siet-chat-phong-chay-tung-canh-rung-a482641.html