Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed localities, ministries, and agencies to intensify forest fire prevention and control measures.
According to Telegram 31/CD-TTG dated April 4, 2024, the PM requests the Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities and related agencies to strictly enforce forest fire prevention and control and intensify inspection and supervision.
They are asked to develop specific, detailed fire prevention and control plans, arrange staff and resources for the work, review and make a list of fire-prone forests.
The PM also assigns tasks to ministries and asks the mass media to further popularize information about forest fire prevention and control, especially fire warnings and forecasting.
The telegram says unusual hot weather is baking the southern and Central Highlands regions as well as some northern provinces, causing high risk of fire for many forests at dangerous and extremely dangerous levels.
According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, due to the impact of climate change and the El Nino phenomenon, in 2024 severe heat waves will appear in many localities, with higher temperatures than in 2023. Severe hot weather and falling rainfalls pose a high risk of forest fires in many places, causing damage to forests and the environment, and affecting the people’s health, property, and lives.