Nearly 4,000ha of forest in Ca Mau at extreme fire risk
Among the over 33,000ha of drought-hit forest in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, more than 13,530ha has fire potential rated as “dangerous” (Level 4) and nearly 4,000ha “extremely dangerous” (Level 5), local authorities said.
People take part in a fire drill. (Illustrative photo: VNA)
CaMau (VNA) – Among the over 33,000ha of drought-hit forest in thesouthernmost province of Ca Mau, more than 13,530ha has fire potential rated as“dangerous” (Level 4) and nearly 4,000ha “extremely dangerous” (Level 5), localauthorities said.
The forestprotection sub-department under the provincial Department of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment said on March 15 that most the drought-hit forests are located inthe areas of the U Minh Ha forestry company, the U Minh Ha National Park, the forestprotection unit of Hon Khoai Island, and U Minh and Tran Van Thoi districts.
Those athigh fire risk concentrate in the areas of the U Minh Ha forestry company, theU Minh Ha National Park; Khanh Binh Tay Bac and Tran Hoi communes of Tran VanThoi district; and Khanh An, Khanh Lam, and Nguyen Phich communes of U Minhdistrict.
Le VanHai, head of the forest protection sub-department, said this year’s dry seasonis forecast to witness the El Nino phenomenon and prolonged heat, leading tomore severe water scarcity compared to the same period last year.
Water levelsof canals in U Minh Ha Forest are now less than 1 metre, and below 1.5 - 2 metresin some other areas. Meanwhile, there remain over two months before the dryseason ends. This will heighten risks of forest fire as well as water shortagesfor firefighting, he noted.
However,forest owners have readied fire prevention and control plans and also held firedrills, Hai said, adding that the sub-department has also instructed forestowners, localities, and local residents to engage in the work.
Ca Mauhasn’t recorded any forest fires over the last three dry seasons./.
VNA
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People take part in a fire drill. (Illustrative photo: VNA)