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Mekong Delta Provinces susceptible to forest fires
  • | SGGP | May 03, 2011 07:34 AM

The Mekong Delta Provinces have become highly susceptible to the risk of forest fires due to severe heat wave conditions recently.

A view of the U Minh Ha cajuput forest in the Mekong Delta.

Many provinces have been on fire alert level 5, the highest risk level.

Tran Van Thuc, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Ca Mau Province, said that more than 18,000 hectares of the province was facing severe drought and a risk of forest fires at level 3. The risk continues to increase daily.

Recently, two small blazes deep in the U Minh Ha forest of the Mekong Delta caused a loss of 0.8 hectares.

The U Minh Ha Park has coordinated with local authorities and forest guards to draft fire prevention plans and warn every household living near forests to remain alert. They have also set up 380 firefighting teams.

The province has asked relevant departments to coordinate with forest management personnel to strengthen checks and prepare all fire prevention and fire fighting equipment.

The province has also asked relevant departments to make people more aware of the dangers in order to enhance people’s cooperation in fighting forest fires.

Three forests in Dong Thap Province, Dinh Ba, A1 and A4 areas of Tram Chim National Forest and Indigo Forest face an alert level 5. Other areas are at alert level 4.

The hot, dry weather has parched Tram Chim National Park in Tam Nong District of Dong Thap Province, where fallen dry leaves have accumulated on the ground and are ignitable.

The heat and dry weather have become so extreme that rangers in areas of Tinh Bien District in Chau Doc town of An Giang Province suspect a fire can break out even with a lit cigarette butt.

The provincial authorities have ordered rangers to strengthen forest patrols.

Nguyen Vinh Phuc, head of the province Forest Protection Sub-department, said that besides providing more facilities and training for fire fighters, they have strengthened patrols and awareness on fire control.

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