Severe heat, Prime Minister requests to develop national forest fire prevention and fighting plan

On April 4, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed the Prime Minister's telegram on proactively strengthening urgent measures to prevent and fight forest fires.

According to the dispatch, the current hot weather situation is complicated and unusual in the provinces of the Southern region, the Central Highlands, and some provinces in the Northern region. Many forests are at level 4 and level 5 forest fire warning (dangerous and extremely dangerous).

Recently, forest fires have occurred continuously in the provinces of Lao Cai, Son La, Yen Bai, Khanh Hoa, Dak Nong, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Kien Giang...

In the past two days, forest fires also broke out in Son La and Dien Bien. These two localities had to mobilize hundreds of people to put out the fires.

According to the forecast of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, due to the impact of climate change and the influence of the El Nino phenomenon, in 2024, severe heat will occur in many localities, with temperatures higher than in 2023.

Hot weather combined with lack of rainfall has caused a high risk of forest fires in many places, causing damage to forests and the environment, affecting people's health, property, lives and livelihoods.

To proactively prevent and fight forest fires and minimize damage caused by forest fires, the Prime Minister requested that provinces and cities consider forest fire prevention and fighting a key task, and absolutely not be subjective, negligent, or lose vigilance.

Have specific and detailed plans and arrange permanent forces at checkpoints and stations to strictly control people entering and exiting forest areas at high risk of fire.

Review and make a list of forests at high risk of fire, paying special attention to forests in the North affected by the recent cold spell, creating a large layer of flammable material in the forest.

At the same time, strengthen patrolling, guarding, early detection of forest fires and ensure on-duty forces, ready to mobilize on-site forces to handle forest fires as soon as they occur.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to be responsible for directing and organizing forest fire prevention and fighting nationwide.

Develop a national forest fire prevention and fighting plan, be ready to support localities with forces, fire fighting equipment, fire point information, and command work when a forest fire occurs.

At the same time, strengthen direction and inspection of forest fire prevention and fighting work in localities, especially key areas of forest fires.

The Prime Minister also assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises to direct the electricity sector and Vietnam Electricity Group to preside over and coordinate with local authorities and relevant agencies to ensure absolute safety of the national power system, preventing incidents in transmission and electricity supply for production and people's lives.

The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security review and proactively develop plans to support forest fire fighting in the areas where units are stationed, and are ready to mobilize forces and means to participate in forest fire fighting when requested.