Over 100,000 ha out of 350,000 ha of forests in the south central coastal province of Binh Thuan are on the highest alert for fires as the peak of the dry season begins, according to the provincial Forestry Management Department. 

Heat waves have put forests in Tuy Phong, Duc Linh, Tanh Linh and Ham Tan districts at the extremely high fire level. 

To deal with this situation, the provincial People’s Committee has asked departments, agencies and localities to seriously implement instructions on forest management and protection, and forest fire prevention. 

The local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has also organised training for more than 1,000 forest rangers, and put into use firefighting facilities. 

The heat waves are forecast to continue until September, causing challenges to forest protection, the Forestry Management Department said. 

Therefore, forest rangers are working around the clock in key forests and stepped up communication work to raise public awareness of forest fire. -VNA