Central Highlands forest fire razes 60 hectares of pines

A three-day forest fire that broke out March 14 in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai destroyed 60 hectares of young pine trees on Mang Yang Pass.

A three-day forest fire that broke out March 14 in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai destroyed 60 hectares of young pine trees on Mang Yang Pass.

A forest fire rages out of control at Mang Yang Pass in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on March 14. The three-day inferno damaged around 60 hectares of 6-year-old pine trees. (Photo:Tuoi Tre)

A forest fire rages out of control at Mang Yang Pass in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on March 14. The three-day inferno damaged around 60 hectares of 6-year-old pine trees. (Photo:Tuoi Tre)

The nearby Ha Tam Commune People’s Committee and local firefighters received information about the blaze around three hours after it first started, and began immediate efforts to extinguish the flames.

However, due to the location and challenging terrain, firefighters struggled to bring the inferno under control. 

It took until 2 pm on March 16 to completely extinguish the fire, said Bui Ba Son, chairman of the Dak Po District People’s Committee.

However, at 7 pm the same day, Sai Gon Giai Phong reporters discovered another fire burning near the top of Mang Yang Mountain pass, just over 1 kilometer from where the previous fire had occurred.

SGGP immediately notified firefighters and local authorities.

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