Many difficulties in forest fire prevention in Nghe An

Since the beginning of the hot season, Nghe An has had 6 forest fires, including one that caused major damage in Tan Chau commune (formerly Dien Chau). In fact, forest fire prevention work in the area still has many shortcomings…

Forest fire in Tan Chau commune on August 3, 2025. Photo: Van Truong

Need to strengthen forest patrol and inspection

The latest forest fire occurred on the afternoon of August 3, 2025, in a forest area in Tan Chau commune (Dien Loc, Dien Loi, Dien Phu and Dien Tho communes of the old Dien Chau district). Immediately after receiving the news, the local authorities mobilized about 500 people from neighboring communes and specialized vehicles to participate in fighting the fire. By 1:00 a.m. on August 4, the fire was completely controlled. The fire burned about 6.47 hectares of pine forest.

However, the incident has shown the limitations in forest fire prevention and control in the locality. Although Tan Chau commune has proactively established 3 checkpoints in key areas since the beginning of the hot season, on duty 24/7 and required people to declare their personal information when entering and leaving the forest. However, due to the specific characteristics of the area with more than 200 trails into the forest and adjacent to residential areas, controlling people entering the forest is still very difficult.

Scene of the forest fire in Tan Chau commune. Photo: Van Truong

One of the main reasons why fighting the fire is so difficult is the lack of a firebreak system. Some old runways have not been cleared due to lack of funds, leading to the fire spreading quickly. Firefighters have to clear the runways as soon as the fire breaks out – this work takes place at night, in poor lighting conditions, and in difficult terrain, making it very ineffective.

Not only lacking runways, Tan Chau commune is also currently lacking firefighting equipment. According to Mr. Phan Van Hung - Chairman of Tan Chau Commune People's Committee - the locality has more than 2,300 hectares of forest, mainly pine forests that are highly flammable, but currently only has 6 blowers, while the actual need is at least 15.

A forest fire prevention and fighting checkpoint in Tan Chau commune. Photo: Van Truong

“After the recent fire, we have learned our lesson and will continue to educate contracted households about forest protection, mobilize forces to increase patrols and forest inspections, and limit fires from entering the forest. In the long term, the commune will focus on treating vegetation and maintaining firebreaks in key areas to reduce the risk of fire spreading,” said Mr. Hung.

Currently, most of the forest area in the commune has not been treated for vegetation - a factor that poses a high risk of fire during the hot season.

Tan Chau commune currently has quite a lot of dense pine and acacia forests. Photo: Van Truong

Lack of runways, lack of equipment, difficult to respond to forest fires

Besides Tan Chau commune, many other localities in Nghe An province are also facing similar challenges in forest fire prevention. In Hung Chau commune (merged with Dien Doai, Dien Lam, Dien Truong and Dien Yen communes of the old Dien Chau district), the work of controlling people entering and leaving the forest is implemented through checkpoints.

However, according to Mr. Nguyen Khanh Duong - Vice Chairman of Hung Chau Commune People's Committee, with more than 450 hectares of pine forest - a type of forest that is easily flammable - forest fire prevention work here still faces many difficulties. "Some people still keep the habit of bringing fire into the forest to hunt bees, while most of the pine forest area has not been treated for vegetation. This is a very high potential risk of forest fires", Mr. Duong said.

According to statistics, up to now, Nghe An has only been able to handle 2,642 ha/15,867 ha of pine forests at high risk of fire, accounting for less than 17% of the total area. Recorded in Van An commune (forest area in Thuong Tan Loc commune, old Nam Dan district), the vegetation under the forest canopy is currently dense, has not been thoroughly handled, and poses many risks during the long hot season.

Many communes in the province still lack forest fire fighting equipment, especially fire blowers. Photo: Van Truong

Meanwhile, the firebreak system - an important solution to contain and control forest fires - has not been maintained or renewed. For example, in Van Tu commune (belonging to Cong Thanh commune, old Yen Thanh district), bordering Van Hien commune (old Do Luong district), forest fires often occur because the firebreaks in the sub-regions and border areas have not been renewed or maintained. Mr. Nguyen Van Thuan - Chairman of Van Tu commune People's Committee said: "We are fully aware of the important role of firebreaks, but due to lack of funds, we have not been able to implement them. In the coming time, the commune will put them into an urgent plan to overcome them."

According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Minh - Head of the Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Department (Nghe An Provincial Forest Protection Department), the whole province is currently lacking more than 150 km of firebreaks. Although the province has allocated budgets for forest owners, it is still not enough to meet actual needs, especially in the work of vegetation treatment and maintenance of the firebreak system. Mr. Minh emphasized that it is necessary to promote socialization and integrate capital sources to improve the effectiveness of forest fire prevention.

Many communes in Nghe An do not have firebreaks, increasing the risk of fire spreading. Photo: Van Truong

Improve the effectiveness of forest fire prevention and fighting

A representative of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment said: Although the State budget has annually allocated funds to implement forest fire prevention and fighting (PCCCR), however, according to practical assessments, this funding source has not yet fully met the requirements of PCCCR plans, especially in essential items such as vegetation treatment, firebreak construction, and purchase of firefighting tools and equipment.

This situation is even more evident in localities and areas where forest areas are managed by commune-level People's Committees or households. The implementation of contents such as vegetation treatment, fire-break construction, procurement and use of fire-fighting equipment and vehicles... still faces many difficulties, lacks uniformity, and is even spontaneous, without following a specific plan.

Officers of Nam Dan - Hung Nguyen Forest Protection Department inspect the pine forest for fire prevention. Photo: Van Truong

However, according to a report from the Department of Agriculture and Environment from early 2025 to present, forest owners, organizations and local authorities have made efforts to collect and treat vegetation to reduce combustible materials. Along with that, 186 km of firebreaks have been repaired and 62 km of firebreaks have been renewed in production forests bordering natural forests. Many infrastructure items such as fire watchtowers, fire ban signs, propaganda boards, forest fire forecast boards, etc. have also been repaired and renewed.

Notably, the province has allocated funds to invest in purchasing and distributing many specialized equipment for forest fire fighting such as: 180 blowers, 85 brush cutters, 122 chainsaws, 1,610 fire extinguishers, 2,574 knives, 2,844 rakes, hoes, and shovels; 26 water pumps, 267 handheld speakers, 1,254 water cans, 715 flashlights, 250 GPS locators, and 17 binoculars. In addition, the province is operating 12 forest fire surveillance camera systems, contributing to improving the ability to monitor and provide early warning when incidents occur.

To continue to improve the effectiveness of forest fire prevention and control in the coming time, localities need to strengthen propaganda, raise awareness and responsibility of the community for forest protection and forest fire prevention and control. Along with that, it is necessary to organize specialized training and coaching for forces participating in fire fighting. Information and warnings about forest fire risks, weather forecasts, and heat waves need to be carried out regularly and promptly to each person for proactive prevention.

Authorities need to increase patrols, inspections, and strictly control entry and exit from forests at forest guard posts and points, especially during the peak of the dry season, and strictly handle acts of illegal fire use in forests. At the same time, localities need to review, consolidate, and effectively implement the "4 on-site" plan in forest fire prevention, be ready to deploy combat plans when fires occur, and promptly mobilize on-site forces and means to extinguish fires, preventing them from becoming larger and spreading.

Provincial leaders and working delegation inspected forest fire prevention in Tan Mai ward. Photo: Van Truong

Localities need to continue to promote the role and responsibility of leaders of Party committees, authorities and relevant agencies in forest fire prevention and fighting. At the same time, organize effective fire fighting command, resolutely investigate and strictly handle violations that cause forest fires.

In the first 8 months of 2025, the province had 6 forest fires in the communes of Van Tu, Quynh Phu, Quynh Van, Hai Loc, Vinh Tuong and Tan Chau, burning 8,787 hectares of forest and damaging 2,593 hectares of pine, eucalyptus, acacia and Giang forests. A total of 1,166 people were mobilized to participate in fire fighting, promptly controlling the fires.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/nhieu-kho-khan-trong-cong-tac-phong-chong-chay-rung-o-nghe-an-10303927.html