'On standby' for fire prevention and firefighting during the dry season
In Can Tho, facing prolonged hot weather, the city has directed relevant units to intensify inspections, maintain vigilance, and strengthen forest fire prevention and control efforts during the 2026 dry season.
According to a report by the City's Steering Committee for Forest Fire Prevention and Control, the total forested land area in Can Tho City is nearly 13,400 hectares, including over 1,750 hectares of special-use forests, over 6,800 hectares of protection forests, and over 4,800 hectares of production forests. A review revealed that approximately 1,610 hectares of forest are at high risk of fire, concentrated in key areas such as the Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve in Hau Giang.
The Steering Committee for Forest Fire Prevention and Control of Can Tho City conducts a field inspection in a key forest area. Photo: Van Vu.
According to Mr. Ngo Chi Dien, Head of the Rural Development and Forestry Sub-Department (Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City), this year's weather presents many unfavorable factors, with hot weather potentially lasting until mid-May, increasing the risk of forest fires.
"In extreme weather conditions, the city requires units to strengthen propaganda and raise public awareness; at the same time, regularly inspect dry areas with a high risk of fire," Mr. Dien emphasized.
The city has also strengthened its disaster prevention and control force with a city-level Steering Committee of 28 members, a commune-level Steering Committee of 224 members, and hundreds of community forces ready to provide support in case of incidents. Public awareness campaigns have been intensified with numerous events organized for residents and students, contributing to raising community awareness.
In addition, the infrastructure serving the Fire Prevention and Control Steering Committee has been strengthened, including numerous patrol routes, watchtowers, surveillance cameras, and water storage facilities. Firefighting vehicles and equipment have also been inspected and supplemented to ensure readiness for response.
Following the city's directive, at the Lung Ngoc Hoang Hau Giang Nature Reserve (Phuong Binh commune, Can Tho city), a key forest area, Mr. Le Thanh Son - Director of the Lung Ngoc Hoang Hau Giang Nature Reserve - said that the unit has cleared canals and built a water storage system to maintain moisture for the forest; at the same time, it has intensified propaganda to raise people's awareness.
When the forest fire alert level is raised to dangerous, the unit increases its duty shifts from 9 AM to 9 PM daily, organizing patrols and closely monitoring key areas.
On the front lines, Mr. Tran Van Tien, Deputy Head of the Specialized Protection Team of Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve in Hau Giang, said that in the context of dwindling water sources in the forest, the force has to increase patrols and extend their duty hours until 9 PM every day to ensure good control of the situation.
Meanwhile, the role of the local people continues to be emphasized. Mr. Tang Van Loi, a resident of Phuong Binh commune, Can Tho city, living in the Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve in Hau Giang province, said that the people are always vigilant, do not enter the forest on their own, and are ready to cooperate when incidents occur. "We consider the forest as our livelihood. Even a small mistake can have serious consequences," Mr. Loi shared.
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