The Prime Minister directed to resolutely deploy measures to prevent and fight forest fires nationwide.

(Chinhphu.vn) - Hot weather will continue to occur in many localities in the coming days, with a high risk of forest fires. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested ministries, branches and localities to continue to proactively prevent and fight forest fires, minimizing damage caused by forest fires.

The forest area that caught fire in Nghe An province on the afternoon of April 30, 2024.

This is the content of Official Dispatch No. 43/CĐ-TTg on continuing to decisively and effectively implement forest fire prevention and control measures nationwide, which was signed and issued by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 1, 2024.

Telegrams to Ministers of Ministries:   National Defense, Public Security, Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Industry and Trade, Planning and Investment, Finance, Information and Communications; Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises; General Director: Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, Vietnam News Agency; Chairman of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities.

The dispatch stated: In recent days, due to the impact of climate change and the influence of the El Nino phenomenon, severe heat has been occurring in many localities, with the highest temperature ranging from 37 ⁰ C to 39 ⁰ C, in some places over 42 ⁰ C; 15 forest fires have occurred in the provinces of Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Quang Tri, Nghe An, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, An Giang..., burning over 260 hectares of forests of all kinds, negatively affecting the ecological environment and people's lives. In particular, the fire from April 26 to 27, 2024 in Vi Xuyen district, Ha Giang province burned down nearly 20 hectares of forest, two forest rangers died and another ranger was injured while on duty to fight the forest fire.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, hot weather will continue in many localities in the coming days, especially in the Central Coastal region (from Quang Binh to Phu Yen), the Central Highlands, and the Southern region; from May 10-20, 2024, widespread hot weather is likely to return to the Northern and Central regions. Therefore, the risk of forest fires remains high. To continue proactively preventing and fighting forest fires, and minimizing damage caused by forest fires, the Prime Minister requests:

1. The Ministers of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Defence, Public Security, Industry and Trade, Planning and Investment, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, and Information and Communications; the Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises; the Directors General of the Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, and Vietnam News Agency; and the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, according to their assigned functions, duties, and authority, shall continue to strictly implement:

a) Conclusion No. 61-KL/TW dated August 17, 2023 of the Secretariat on continuing to implement Directive No. 13-CT/TW dated January 12, 2017 of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership in forest management, protection and development;

b) Official Dispatch No. 31/CD-TTg dated April 4, 2024, Official Dispatch No. 41/CD-TTg dated April 27, 2024 of the Prime Minister on proactively strengthening urgent measures to prevent and fight forest fires and related directive documents;

c) This is just the beginning of summer; therefore, we must absolutely not be complacent, negligent, or lose vigilance, especially during the peak period of sunshine and heat.

2. The Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for forest fire prevention and control in their respective areas, and are urged to promptly direct the implementation of the following key and urgent tasks:

a) Directing People's Committees at all levels and relevant agencies to strictly fulfill their responsibilities in managing forest fire prevention and control, strengthening inspection and supervision of forest fire prevention and control from early on, from afar, and at the grassroots level; this must be considered a central and continuous task;

b) Strengthen propaganda and education to raise public awareness and responsibility in forest fire prevention and control. Simultaneously, inspect, supervise, and strictly control the use of fire in and near forests by the people, especially slash-and-burn farming activities; temporarily suspend the use of fire for clearing vegetation; and severely punish acts of using fire that pose a risk of forest fires during peak periods and periods of high forest fire risk.

c) Proactively and urgently review local forest fire prevention and control plans and strategies based on the "four on-the-spot" principle; allocate personnel, equipment, materials, and funding for forest fire prevention and control;

d) Directly supervise the coordination among forces involved in forest fire prevention and control, ensuring effectiveness and safety; strengthen training and professional development in forest fire prevention and control for forces engaged in forest fire prevention and control; ensure the provision of personal protective equipment, smoke protection, logistics, food, water, and medical supplies for forces carrying out forest fire fighting tasks;

d) Assigning forces to be on duty 24/7 throughout the dry season; setting up checkpoints and patrols in key areas prone to forest fires; strictly controlling access to and from high-risk forest areas; promptly detecting fire outbreaks and mobilizing forces to control and extinguish forest fires in the shortest possible time;

e) Develop plans and strategies for relocating people, public property, state assets, and businesses from areas affected by forest fires when they occur; implement measures to ensure absolute safety and have appropriate and effective policies for forces participating in forest fire fighting; effectively implement the Project on Enhancing the Capacity of Forest Rangers in Forest Management, Protection, and Fire Prevention and Fighting for the period 2021-2030, as stipulated in Decision No. 177/QD-TTg dated February 10, 2022, of the Prime Minister;

g) Proactively direct relevant agencies to coordinate investigations to clarify the causes and strictly punish those who intentionally violate the law on forest fire prevention and control; hold accountable the heads of agencies when forest fires occur; promptly commend and reward organizations and individuals who actively participate in forest fire prevention and control; be held accountable to the Prime Minister if large-scale forest fires occur and cause significant damage to forests within the area under their management;

h) Regularly monitor information on forecasts and warnings of heatwave risks, forest fire risks, and early detection of forest fires (on news broadcasts of Vietnam Television, Vietnam Radio, the website of the Forest Protection Department: kiemlam.org.vn, and the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting: nchmf.gov.vn); promptly inform and report any forest fires to the Forest Protection Department's duty officer at the following phone number: 098 666 8 333; Email: fpd@kiemlam.org.vn, ensuring complete and accurate information for coordinated direction and mobilization of forest firefighting forces from other localities (when necessary).

3. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for proactively directing the work of forecasting, warning, and organizing forest fire prevention and control nationwide, focusing on directing the implementation of the following key and urgent tasks:

a) Closely monitor weather developments, especially in key areas at high risk of forest fires, and promptly provide information to localities to proactively implement forest fire prevention and control plans; maintain forecasting, warning, and monitoring of forest fire risks to disseminate timely information through mass media and communication channels for direction and management;

b) Strengthen guidance and inspection of forest fire prevention and control work in localities, especially in key areas prone to forest fires; be ready to support localities with firefighting forces and equipment, information on fire locations, and command and control when large forest fires occur; promote the application of high technology in forecasting, warning of forest fire risks and early detection of forest fires; maintain a permanent forest fire prevention and control duty system as prescribed.

4. The Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Public Security shall direct their respective units to review and proactively develop plans to provide the highest possible support for forest firefighting in their areas of operation, and be ready to mobilize forces and equipment to participate in firefighting when forest fires occur.

5. The Minister of Industry and Trade, Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises, directs the electricity sector and Vietnam Electricity Group to preside over and coordinate with local authorities and relevant agencies to ensure the absolute safety of the national power system, preventing any incidents in the transmission and supply of electricity to serve production and the lives of the people.

6. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment directs relevant agencies to closely monitor the situation, improve the quality of forecasting and warning work, and promptly provide information on weather and extreme weather phenomena to relevant agencies and the public, serving forest fire prevention and control efforts.

7. The Ministry of Information and Communications, the Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, the Vietnam News Agency, and other media agencies shall continue to do a good job of disseminating information and communicating about forest protection and forest fire prevention and control from early on, from afar, and at the grassroots level; and promptly provide information on forest fire warnings and forecasts.

8. Assign Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang to directly supervise and handle issues related to forest fire prevention and control; especially emerging, sudden, and unexpected issues.

9. The Government Office, in accordance with its assigned functions and duties, shall coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to monitor and urge relevant ministries, agencies, and localities to implement this Directive, and promptly report the results of implementation to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister in charge./.

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