Chairman of Sa Pa Town People's Committee (Lao Cai Province) To Ngoc Lien said that by February 20 morning, functional forces mobilized nearly 500 people to control the forest fire in the Hoang Lien National Park; however, a terrain with vertical cliffs interact with the thick layer of vegetation and change in wind direction caused difficulties for them to access to the fire scene as well as control the flames.
The forest ranger agency of Lao Cai Province reported that the Hoang Lien National Park received information about the forest fire from the staff of Ranger Station No.4 on February 19.
Initially, the flame was found at a forestland of sub-zone 286 in Seo My Ty village, Ta Van commune, located around five kilometers far from Ranger Station No. 4. at 1:40 p.m. on February 19.
By 5 p.m. on the same day, the flames spread to sub-zones 286 and 292a and the area of Ta Van Commune.
