Nghe An communes expand forest fire prevention and control plans

Forest fire prevention plans expanded in Nghe An, Vietnam

Communes in Nghe An province are establishing updated command structures for forest fire prevention in line with new government guidelines, Vietnam.vn has reported.

The move is a response to heightened fire risks during the hot season, particularly in areas with large pine forest coverage.

Vietnam.vn reported that Hung Chau and Binh Minh communes are among those leading the initiative, with the creation of new Steering Committees for the Sustainable Forestry Development Program and command for forest fire prevention and control.

These committees are responsible for coordinating prevention, detection and suppression activities at the local level, including deployment of personnel and firefighting tools.

According to the report, the forest fire response framework in Nghe An is expected to be completed across all communes by the end of August 2025.

Strengthening local fire response teams in Hung Chau

Hung Chau commune, created from the merger of four former communes in Dien Chau district, has formed a 31-member steering committee to oversee forest fire prevention and suppression.

Vietnam.vn stated that the committee is headed by the Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee, with support from vice chairs, the local police chief, military command, and forest rangers.

According to Nguyen Khanh Duong, Vice Chairman of Hung Chau Commune People’s Committee, the area includes more than 450 hectares of pine forest and faces fire risks linked to traditional practices such as bee hunting involving fire.

Duong said: “The commune currently has over 450 hectares of pine forest – a type of forest that is easily flammable during the hot season. Meanwhile, a part of the people still keep the habit of bringing fire into the forest to hunt bees, which poses a great risk of forest fires. Therefore, it is urgent to strengthen the steering committee to ensure timely command and coordination when incidents occur.”

The commune has also established two 24-hour checkpoints at forest entry points, requiring visitors to provide personal information to track and reduce fire risks.

Equipment including extinguishers, water pumps and blowers has been distributed to local responders.

Binh Minh’s fire prevention team structure and deployment

Binh Minh commune, formed from four former communes in the Yen Thanh district, has also finalised its fire prevention strategy.

According to Vice Chairman Tran Dinh Canh, the commune has over 600 hectares of pine forest and has mobilised core firefighting units from 42 hamlets.

The grassroots teams include militia members and village chiefs, each provided with tools such as fire extinguishers, smothering boards, pumps and blowers.

The report noted that daily patrols are carried out in high-risk areas to monitor conditions and detect fire hazards early.

Vietnam.vn added that the communes of Giai Lac, Quan Thanh, Binh Minh and Van Tu have completed the setup of their respective steering committees as of early August 2025.

Guidance from the district and provincial forest departments

Vietnam.vn reported that the Yen Thanh Forest Protection Department has worked closely with commune-level authorities to guide the setup of fire command structures.

Nguyen Viet Khanh, Head of the Yen Thanh Forest Protection Department, said the unit organised the process in accordance with new government decrees and circulars that followed recent changes to local government structures.

The department’s responsibilities have included advising on committee composition, clarifying member roles, and helping develop regulations for operations and mobilisation of logistics.

District-level authorities have also been involved in issuing instructions and verifying plans to ensure readiness for fire incidents.

According to the report, fire prevention planning is being extended to all nine communes in the area.

New national guidance for fire prevention plan development

On 11 July 2025, the Department of Agriculture and Environment issued new guidelines under Decree No. 156/2018/ND-CP to standardise forest fire prevention and control planning.

Nguyen Quoc Minh, Head of the Department of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation under the Nghe An Provincial Forest Protection Department, confirmed the guidelines define responsibilities for different forest owners.

Vietnam.vn reported that individual households, communities, and organisations must develop plans based on standardised forms, with support from forest rangers and commune staff.

Plans must be updated whenever risk conditions change, and finalised documents require local authority approval.

People’s Committees at the commune and ward level are responsible for unallocated forest areas, and must develop prevention plans in consultation with technical staff and relevant agencies.

According to the article, these local committees are expected to complete their command structures by the end of August.

Forest fire prevention and control efforts continue across Nghe An

Vietnam.vn reported that communes across Nghe An province are working to complete the formation of fire command boards by the end of August 2025.

The process involves establishing leadership teams, equipping local units, and setting up monitoring systems to reduce fire risks during the summer heat.

Local governments are being supported by district and provincial departments, which are providing instruction and oversight for plan development and equipment deployment.

Checkpoints and patrol systems have been introduced in fire-prone areas, particularly around pine forests.

The province has implemented Decree No. 156/2018/ND-CP to define and standardise the planning process at the local level.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, forest owners must follow specific procedures for developing and approving fire response plans.

Nghe An communes expand forest fire prevention and control plans: Summary

Communes in Nghe An are implementing updated fire command plans.

The aim is to reduce fire risks during the summer in areas with large pine forests.

Hung Chau and Binh Minh have established local steering committees.

Each committee includes commune officials, police, military and forest rangers.

Hung Chau has set up two 24-hour checkpoints to monitor forest access.

Binh Minh has deployed 42 grassroots teams across its territory.

The Yen Thanh Forest Protection Department is coordinating planning and training.

Guidelines issued in July 2025 define fire prevention planning responsibilities.

Forest owners must develop and update fire prevention plans as risks change.

Local People’s Committees must oversee plans for unallocated forest land.

Four communes have completed their fire command setup so far.

All nine communes are expected to finalise their plans by the end of August.