The Forest Departments from Thua Thien-Hue to Phu Yen Provinces in the central region are on alert and remain vigilant to threats of forest fires, particularly during the prevailing dry and warm weather conditions.
Local authorities remain apprehensive as they are already short in human resources and fire-fighting equipment, and are aware of the formidable task of having to cope with a fire that could spread over wide areas of the region’s forests, most of which is rough and inaccessible terrain.
Quang Ngai Province has 165,000 hectares of cultivated forest, which is located near residential areas and primeval forest in 12 districts.
Le Van Han, Head of the Forest Management Department in the province said that they are mapping out communes that could be most susceptible to forest fires, and implementing necessary protection measures.
Da Nang City has up to 60,000 hectares of forest, of which 40,000 hectares is natural forest.
For this entire area, the city has only 100 rangers and 28 hand-held hose pipes, which means one staff per 600 hectares and one hose pipe for 2,200 hectares of forest cover.
Tran Van Luong, Head of the City Forest Management Department, said that they have called on local authorities to step up propaganda to raise awareness among residents to prevent forest fires from occurring.
Authorities in Quy Nhon town of Binh Dinh Province are also implementing the same measure to minimise future threats of forest fires.
The People’s Committee of Phu Yen Province in February tasked the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to carry out a VND3.9 billion project for forest fire-fighting and prevention during the period 2011-2015.
