Who Has the Authority to Mobilize Forces and Means for Forest Firefighting?

The authority to mobilize forces and means for forest fire fighting is defined by Circular 25/2019/TT-BNNPTNT as follows:

Illustration (source from internet)

Firstly, the commander for forest fire fighting as stipulated at point d, clause 2, Article 37 of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting has the authority to mobilize forces and means for forest fire fighting within the management scope as regulated by the law on fire prevention and fighting.

Secondly, chairpersons of People's Committees at all levels mobilize forces, means, and equipment for forest fire fighting as stipulated in Article 15 of Decree 30/2017/ND-CP dated March 21, 2017, of the Government of Vietnam on the organization, operation for responding to incidents, natural disasters, and search and rescue (hereinafter referred to as Decree 30/2017/ND-CP) in cases where forest fires exceed the control capability of entities stipulated in clause 1 of this Article, specifically:

- The chairperson of the commune-level People's Committee has the authority to mobilize forces, means, and equipment of organizations and individuals within their management scope to fight forest fires. In cases beyond the control capability of the commune level, the chairperson of the commune-level People's Committee reports to the district-level People’s Committee and the district-level Command for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue to mobilize forest fire fighting;- The chairperson of the district-level People’s Committee has the authority to mobilize forces, means, and equipment of organizations and individuals within their management scope to fight forest fires. In cases beyond the control capability of the district level, the chairperson of the district-level People’s Committee reports to the provincial-level People’s Committee and the provincial-level Command for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue to mobilize forest fire fighting;- The chairperson of the provincial-level People’s Committee has the authority to mobilize forces, means, and equipment of organizations and individuals within their management scope to fight forest fires. In cases of large fires beyond the control capability, or fires of a small scale but likely to affect people, to national defense and security, to the safety of important works, or structures and buildings at risk of causing major fires and explosions, the chairperson of the provincial-level People’s Committee reports to the National Committee for Incident, Disaster Response, and Search and Rescue and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to mobilize forest fire fighting.

Thirdly, the fire and rescue police force mobilizes forces and means as stipulated in Article 24 of Decree 79/2014/ND-CP dated July 31, 2014, of the Government of Vietnam detailing the implementation of some articles of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting.

The procedures for mobilizing forces, means, and equipment for forest fire fighting shall be implemented as stipulated in Article 14 of Circular 66/2014/TT-BCA dated December 16, 2014, of the Ministry of Public Security detailing the implementation of some articles of Decree 79/2014/ND-CP. In addition, the provincial-level People's Committees, based on the local actual situation, direct the formulation of coordination regulations to mobilize forces, means, and equipment for forest fire fighting in the area.

See detailed regulations in Circular 25/2019/TT-BNNPTNT effective from February 15, 2020.

Thu Ba

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