Further drastic and effective implementation of forest fire safety measures in Vietnam

Further drastic and effective implementation of forest fire safety measures in Vietnam (Internet image)

On May 1, 2024, the Prime Minister issued Official Telegram 43/CD-TTg on the drastic and effective implementation of forest fire safety measures in Vietnam.

Further drastic and effective implementation of forest fire safety measures in Vietnam

The Prime Minister requests:

- Ministers of relevant ministries, including Agriculture and Rural Development, Defense, Public Security, Industry and Trade, Planning and Investment, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, Information and Communication; Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at enterprises; Directors General of the Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, and Vietnam News Agency; Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, according to their assigned functions, tasks, and authorities, to continue strictly implementing:

+ Conclusion 61-KL/TW dated August 17, 2023 by the Party Central Committee on the continued implementation of Directive 13-CT/TW dated January 12, 2017 by the Party Central Committee on strengthening the Party's leadership in forest management, protection, and development;

+ Official Telegram 31/CD-TTg dated April 4, 2024, Official Telegram 41/CD-TTg dated April 27, 2024 by the Prime Minister on being proactive and strengthening the implementation of urgent measures for forest fire safety, and related guiding documents;

+ This is the beginning of the summer season; therefore, there should be no negligence, complacency, or lack of vigilance, especially during peak periods of sunlight and heat.

- Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to take responsibility for forest fire safety in their respective areas, and urgently direct the implementation of key tasks as follows:

+ Direct People's Committees at all levels and functional agencies to strictly fulfill their management responsibilities for forest fire safety, strengthen early and remote fire detection, and consider it a top priority throughout all levels;

+ Strengthen communication and education to raise awareness and responsibility among the people in forest fire safety. At the same time, closely inspect, supervise, and strictly control the use of fire in and near forests by the people, especially burning activities for shifting cultivation. Suspend the use of fire for waste disposal. Take strict measures against fire-related activities during the peak period and high-risk forest fire times;

+ Proactively and urgently review local plans and forest fire safety arrangements with the principle of "four on-site"; allocate forces, vehicles, materials, and funds to support forest fire safety;

+ Directly oversee the coordination of forces involved in forest fire safety to ensure effectiveness and safety; enhance training and exercises on forest fire safety for the forces engaged in forest fire safety; ensure labor protection equipment, smoke prevention, post-support work, food, water, and medical supplies for the forces carrying out forest fire fighting tasks;

+ Assign forces to be on duty 24/7 during the dry season; set up control points, patrols, and guards in high-risk areas prone to forest fires; strictly control access to and from areas with high forest fire risks; promptly detect fire points and mobilize forces to control and extinguish forest fires within the shortest time possible;

+ Have plans and arrangements for relocating residents and assets of the people, the state, and businesses from areas affected by forest fires when they occur; ensure absolute safety and provide appropriate and effective policies for the forces participating in forest fire fighting tasks; effectively implement the Plan to enhance capacity for forestry inspection forces in forest management, protection, and fire safety in the period 2021-2030 as stated in Decision 177/QD-TTg dated February 10, 2022 by the Prime Minister;

+ Proactively direct functional agencies to coordinate and investigate the causes and strictly handle individuals who deliberately violate the laws and regulations on forest fire safety; hold those in charge accountable for forest fires; promptly commend and reward organizations and individuals actively participating in forest fire safety; take responsibility to the Prime Minister if large-scale forest fires occur and cause significant damage to forests within their management areas;

+ Regularly monitor information on forecasts, warnings of heatwaves, and forest fire risks, and promptly detect forest fires (through bulletins from Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, the website of the Forest Protection Department: kiemlam.org.vn, and the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting: nchmf.gov.vn); promptly report any forest fires to the Forest Protection Department via phone number: 098 666 8 333; email: fpd@kiemlam.org.vn, ensuring complete and accurate information for coordination, direction, and mobilization of firefighting forces from other localities (when necessary).

- The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to take responsibility for actively directing the forecasting, warning, and organization of forest fire safety nationwide, with a focus on directing the implementation of key urgent tasks, including:

+ Monitoring weather developments closely, especially in critical areas at high risk of forest fires, and providing timely information to localities for proactive implementation of forest fire safety plans; maintaining forecasting, warning, and risk assessment of forest fires to ensure timely information dissemination through mass media and communication channels for command and control purposes;

+ Strengthening the direction and inspection of forest fire safety in localities, especially in high-risk forest fire areas; being ready to support localities with firefighting forces, equipment, fire point information, and command when major forest fires occur; promoting the application of advanced technology in forecasting and early detection of forest fire risks; maintaining a continuous duty regime for forest fire safety as regulated.

- The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security to direct their units to review and proactively provide the highest possible support for forest fire fighting in their stationed areas, mobilizing forces and resources to participate in firefighting when forest fires occur.

- The Minister of Industry and Trade, and the Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at enterprises to direct the electricity sector and the Vietnam Electricity Group to take the lead and coordinate with local authorities and relevant agencies to ensure the absolute safety of the national electricity system, preventing transmission and power supply incidents that affect production and people's lives.

- The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment to direct relevant functional agencies to closely monitor the situation and improve the quality of forecasting and timely provision of weather information and extreme weather phenomena to relevant agencies and the public, serving forest fire safety activities.

- The Ministry of Information and Communications, the Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, Vietnam News Agency, and other media agencies to continue to effectively disseminate information about forest protection and forest fire safety from the grassroots level, ensuring timely dissemination of warning and forecasting information about forest fires.

More details can be found in Official Telegram 43/CD-TTg issued on May 1, 2024.

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