A photograph of a veteran forest ranger resting for just a few minutes after more than 40 hours battling a wildfire in central Vietnam has struck an emotional chord, revealing the human cost of protecting the country's forests.
Amid a forest still blanketed in ash after a devastating wildfire, an image of a forest ranger taking a brief rest after more than 40 continuous hours of firefighting has touched many people.
Over the past few days, social media has widely shared a photograph of a man lying down in a forest that had just been ravaged by flames. Around him stood charred tree trunks, while the ground was covered in grey ash and scattered with broken branches.
The simple yet powerful moment has resonated with many, capturing the harsh reality and sacrifices of those dedicated to protecting Vietnam's forests.
Forest ranger Phan Le Hung rests briefly after more than 40 hours battling the wildfire. Photo: Pham Tuan.
Speaking to VietNamNet on June 25, Pham Thanh Tuan, Acting Deputy Head of the Nam Dan - Hung Nguyen Forest Protection Department in Nghe An Province and the photographer who captured the image, said the man in the photo is Phan Le Hung, 58, a forest ranger with more than three decades of service.
According to Tuan, the photo was taken at around 3 p.m. on June 23, after the wildfire in the areas of Thien Nhan and Van An communes had largely been brought under control, although many hotspots were still smoldering. Firefighting teams remained on site in case the flames reignited.
"That afternoon, I saw Hung and several colleagues resting on the mountaintop while waiting for drinking water to be delivered. After working continuously for many hours, he was simply exhausted and took a few minutes to lie down. I happened to capture that moment," Tuan recalled.
The wildfire spread across forest areas in Thien Nhan and Van An communes. Photo: T.T.
Tuan said that as of the morning of June 25, although the wildfire had been brought under control, forest rangers were still working at the site to assess the damage.
The Nam Dan - Hung Nguyen Forest Protection Department has 17 officers and forest rangers responsible for managing more than 6,000 hectares of forest across nine communes. Since the beginning of the year, the unit has coordinated with local authorities, forest owners and other agencies to strengthen wildfire prevention measures, including clearing combustible vegetation in high-risk areas and increasing patrols during periods of extreme heat.
At around noon on June 21, the department received reports of a wildfire in the former Khanh Son Commune, now part of Thien Nhan Commune.
"This area also experienced a wildfire in 2019. Most of the forest consists of regenerated pine, acacia and grassland with thick undergrowth. After storms, many fallen trees remained scattered across the area, making access extremely difficult. By the time our teams arrived, strong southwesterly winds and intense heat had caused the fire to spread rapidly," Tuan said.
After nearly three days, firefighters largely brought the wildfire under control. Photo: T.T.
As the situation became increasingly severe, forest rangers immediately reported to higher authorities and requested additional personnel and equipment. Familiar with the terrain, they played a central role in the firefighting effort, working alongside local authorities, forest owners, the military, police and local residents to create firebreaks, contain the blaze and extinguish active hotspots.
For more than 40 consecutive hours, hundreds of people remained on the mountain, taking turns battling the fire under scorching temperatures and hot, dry Lao winds. Many stayed awake through the night, eating hurried meals at the scene while working to prevent the flames from spreading.
Reflecting on the moment captured in the photograph, Phan Le Hung said he was almost completely exhausted after many hours of firefighting.
"Forest rangers are usually among the first to reach the scene. After hours of climbing mountains, cutting firebreaks and fighting the flames, combined with my age, I was extremely tired. I only lay down for a few minutes before getting back to work," Hung said.
Hung (second from right) joins colleagues surveying forest damage on the morning of June 25. Photo: Phan Hung.Firefighters from the Nghe An Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue Police take a brief rest after spending dozens of hours battling the wildfire. Photo: Nghe An Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue Police.
Hung also expressed his gratitude to local residents who provided drinking water and food to firefighters throughout the operation.
Hung was not the only one to snatch a few moments of sleep. Many officers and personnel from different emergency response forces rested briefly on the ground, concrete floors or building steps at the scene.
Those short moments of rest became rare pauses in the relentless battle against the flames, helping safeguard Vietnam's forests during one of the hottest periods of the year.
Vietnamnet.vn
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