Dong Thap Stepping Up Inspections and Proactive Forest Fire Prevention

(DTO) On April 21, the Forest Protection Department under the Dong Thap Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment reported that seven areas across the province are currently forecast to face an extremely high risk of forest fires. 

Accordingly, Level IV fire danger has been forecast for forests in five communes: An Hoa, Tram Chim, My Qui, Tan Dien, and Go Cong Dong. This is a dangerous level, with a high likelihood of forest fires and rapid fire spread. 

Level V fire danger has been forecast for forests in seven communes: Tan Ho Co, Tam Nong, Phong My, Phuong Thinh, Tan Phuoc 2, Tan Phuoc 3, and Tan Hoa. This is an extremely dangerous level, where large fires can break out easily and spread quickly across all forest types. 

In response, the Forest Protection Department has requested local People’s Committees to strictly fulfill their responsibilities in state forest management. Communal police forces are instructed to work with area forest ranger stations to step up inspections and urge forest owners to fully implement fire prevention and control measures. Fire danger levels must be broadcast daily on the communal radio system so residents and forest owners can remain informed and proactively prevent fires. 

The Forest Protection Department also requested forest owners to fulfill all regulatory responsibilities, arrange personnel, equipment, supplies, and funding in accordance with the “four on-site” principle, and assign 24/7 standby teams, including weekends and holidays. 

At the same time, patrols and guard teams must be deployed in high-risk areas. Access to forests in critical zones must be tightly controlled. Any ignition points must be detected promptly so forces can be mobilized to contain and extinguish fires at the earliest stage. 

Forest ranger stations in Areas I, II, and III are intensifying inspections to ensure forest fire prevention and control safety among forest owners; organizing the operation and maintenance of firefighting equipment; and ensuring that personnel, vehicles, and equipment remain on constant standby, ready to respond to and handle emergency forest fire situations within their jurisdictions. 

By Y PHUONG
Translated by ANH DUC