Dong Thap: Forest fire fighting drill at Gao Giong Melaleuca forest

Currently, the Mekong Delta is in the peak of heat, many forests have been on extremely dangerous alert, so strengthening forest fire prevention and fighting is very urgent.

In order to be proactive in preventing and fighting forest fires, minimizing damage caused by forest fires in hot weather conditions affected by the El-Nino phenomenon. Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee has just issued a time plan for forest fire prevention drills in the area, expected in May 2024, located at Gao Giong Melaleuca forest (Gao Giong commune, Cao Lanh district), with the form of a demonstration. Training exercises on about 25 hectares, including active burning for exercises of 0.5 hectares of natural reeds and reeds, combined to create smoke and fire.

Hypothetical situation of a fire occurring in the “Bamboo and Melaleuca Conservation” area of ​​Gao Giong Melaleuca forest (Lot 5, Lot 6, Plot 1, Area A, Team II, Gao Giong Melaleuca Forest). The presumed cause of the fire is due to land disputes, people burning and destroying, people in the suburbs illegally entering the forest to catch bees, carelessly dropping embers causing fires, in the dry season, prolonged hot weather. causing the grass layer to become dry and thick, the humidity in the forest to drop, and the forest fire warning to increase to level V (extremely dangerous level).

Regarding handling hypothetical situations, according to the drill plan, it is carried out in 2 levels (including 4 stages), with an estimated time of about 40 minutes.

The exercise aims to improve the ability to effectively organize and command forest fire fighting at the grassroots level, direct the development of operating mechanisms, and coordinate combat between forces, promptly and effectively handle situations. hypothetical situation occurs, quickly control and extinguish the fire when it first arises, not letting a big fire happen.

Through drills, it helps improve the skills of using equipment for forest fire prevention and fighting and the practical capacity of forces participating in forest fire fighting, thereby making adjustments and supplements. Complete fire prevention and fighting plans…

Mr. Pham Thien Nghia, Chairman of Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee, who approved the plan to organize provincial forest fire fighting drills in 2024, said: Dong Thap has a forest land area of ​​more than 6,161 hectares, of which, forest area is planted area is 5,723 hectares, the planted area not yet forested is 438.86 hectares. Especially this year, with prolonged hot weather, the risk of forest fires is very high, so the Provincial People’s Committee has launched a plan to practice forest fire prevention during the dry season so that when a fire occurs, the functional forces can take appropriate measures. promptly remedied.

According to this exercise plan, the aim is to improve the ability to effectively organize and command forest fires at the grassroots level, direct the development of operating mechanisms, and coordinate combat between forces, to promptly handle them. effectively hypothetical situations occur. Quickly control and extinguish fires when they first arise, preventing large fires from occurring.

Besides, it also improves skills in using equipment for forest fire prevention and fighting and practical capacity of forces participating in forest fire fighting. Thereby, there is an adjustment, supplementation, and completion of forest fire prevention and fighting plans to be proactive and ready in all possible situations, minimizing damage caused by forest fires, contributing to part of socio-economic development in the province.

In addition, it also reviews and checks the ability to mobilize forces, firefighting and rescue equipment of agencies, units and facilities in the province to participate in handling major fire and explosion situations. , complicated. From there, properly evaluate the features, effects, and actual effectiveness of various types of vehicles and equipment for firefighting, rescue, rescue, communications, and logistics to invest and equip appropriately to serve the needs. effective combat.

Implement well the motto “4 on-site” including on-site command, on-site forces, on-site vehicles, on-site supplies and logistics. Strengthen close coordination between local departments and branches, and between forest fire fighting forces at all levels, contributing to the effective implementation of forest fire prevention and fighting.