Recently, many localities have launched communication campaigns, practical drills, and local force development initiatives to strengthen their readiness and ability to prevent and respond to forest fires.

In March, the Civil Defense Drill Steering Committee of Tuần Giáo district successfully organized a civil defense and forest fire prevention and control drill in Tuần Giáo town. The drill was conducted in two phases: a command exercise and a live field operation simulating forest fire response and search-and-rescue. The live drill, held in Nong Tấu hamlet, featured two realistic and practical scenarios. After four hours of persistent efforts, the fire was completely extinguished. The exercise not only tested the effectiveness of civil defense planning but also demonstrated strong coordination and readiness among local forces.

At the conclusion of the drill, Phạm Thị Tuyên, Vice Chairwoman of the Tuần Giáo district People’s Committee, praised the responsibility and efforts of participating forces. She emphasized the need for continued awareness-raising, especially among local residents, and urged authorities at all levels to update and refine FFPC plans based on the “four on-the-spot” principle. Violations of forest protection and FFPC regulations must be strictly dealt with.

Tuần Giáo district currently has more than 46,600 hectares of forest land, including over 45,570 hectares of natural forest. Its vast forest area, complex terrain, and prolonged dry season pose a high risk of forest fires. The district’s Forest Protection Division has closely coordinated with local authorities to develop tailored FFPC plans. Frequent patrols and inspections are carried out, especially during peak heat periods, focusing on high-risk zones.

Nguyễn Thị Hà Thu, Head of the Tuần Giáo District Forest Protection Division, shared: “During the dry season, we coordinate with forest owners to set up checkpoints at key access points to fire-prone areas. We also closely monitor compliance with FFPC regulations by individuals and communities. Local rangers are assigned to stay in close contact with villages to advise and remind residents of safe practices. Special attention is given to remote villages where awareness is lower, to educate people about the consequences of forest fires and the legal penalties involved.”

Given the complexities of FFPC work, the provincial Forest Protection Sub-department has increased its oversight of local forest protection offices, actively advising the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment on FFPC efforts and issuing fire risk alerts. From December 2024 to March 13, 2025, 350 fire points were detected across the province, most resulting from slash-and-burn farming near forests or grassland fires, without impacting forested areas.

To stay ahead during peak fire seasons, the Sub-department maintains a hotline for forest fire warnings and violations. It continuously monitors meteorological data and fire risk forecasts on the Forest Protection Department’s online platform. Alerts for fire risk levels III, IV, and V are promptly sent to relevant agencies and forest owners for timely response. Local forest protection units are instructed to intensify coordination with forest owners for patrols, inspections, and early detection of illegal activities.

In the first quarter of 2025, provincial forest rangers conducted 1,483 patrols with over 7,000 participants, focusing on areas at high risk of deforestation, fires, or illegal logging. A total of 141 awareness-raising sessions were organized with 7,756 attendees; 6,450 people signed forest protection pledges. Additionally, public loudspeaker broadcasts were used 401 times, totaling nearly 275 hours.

Hà Lương Hồng, Director of the provincial Forest Protection Sub-department, stressed the importance of communication efforts: “We consider communication a key task that must be implemented consistently and strategically. Both the format and content are tailored to suit different target audiences, with special focus on integrating legal education and policy dissemination into forest protection messaging.”

Forest fire prevention and control is not the sole responsibility of rangers or local authorities, it requires the involvement of the entire society. In addition to finalizing FFPC plans, authorities must focus on educating and persuading residents not to practice slash-and-burn during periods of high fire risk. Through these efforts, public awareness is gradually improving, forming a strong grassroots-level “shield” for forest protection and contributing to long-term ecological sustainability.