Hundreds of fire fighters battled about a dozen forest fires fuelled by dry conditions and high temperatures in the northern province of Lao Cai for three days from February 25-27.
Fire fighters extinguish a fire at a warehouse in Tan Tao Industrial Zone, Ho Chi Minh City on February 27. (Photo:SGGP)
Most of the fires occurred in Van Ban district and in the central 12 communes of Hoang Lien Forest, the province’s Agriculture and Rural Development Department said.
The biggest fire burnt a replanted forest at Nam Xe and Nam Xay communes in the middle of Hoang Lien forest, said local authorities.
Fire crews put out all the fires yesterday. So far there have been no official reports of the extent of the damage.
A forest fire broke out in replanted forest in Lao Cai City yesterday morning when farmers working with forest manager, Nguyen Thi Duyen, lost control of a burn-off to clear land in an area close to the forest.
Hundreds of fire fighters sent by Lao Cai Province People’s Committee controlled the blaze by 3 pm.
According to the Forest Protection Department, 12 provinces nationwide, including Kien Giang, Ca Mau and An Giang in the Mekong Delta, and Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Lam Dong in the Central Highlands and Son La in the north, are suffering drought and have been put on the highest fire alert.
There were many areas under the Level 5 Alert, said Ha Cong Tuan, head of the Forest Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
He said the cause of the alert was dry weather caused by El Nino, which has pushed temperatures 2-3 degrees Celsius higher than usual. He also said a short rainy season with little rain and the early-arrival of the dry season this year had contributed to the problem. Some fire cases were caused by slash-and burn farming, Tuan said.
In related news, a fire has destroyed a 10,800-square meter warehouse in Tan Tao Industrial Zone, Ho Chi Minh City on February 27 at 5:30 pm.
The warehouse was owned by Scancia Pacific Co.Ltd.
The fire started in a wood store at 5.30 pm and spread rapidly.
More than 218 fire fighters and 33 trucks from district 1, 6, 8, 11 and Binh Tan district were sent to the blaze and brought it under control by 10 pm.
Police are investigating the cause.
On the same day, another fire in Phong Dien district, Can Tho City, burnt three houses causing losses of VND500 million (US$26,000).
The fire started in a store owned by Truong Thi Thu when people were burning dry banana leaves and it burnt out of control. Fanned by strong winds, it spread quickly to the neighboring houses. It took more than one hour to extinguish according to local authorities.
No-one was injured.
