VietNamNet Bridge - By 3pm on March 6, forest fires in Hoang Lien National Park in Sa Pa, Lao Cai province were under control.

Fire-fighters at the Hoang Lien National Park. Photo: TTXVN

The fire occurred on March 5 in the sub-region 292A of Hoang Lien National Park, in the village of Seo My Ty, Ta Van Commune, Sa Pa District. The area in fire is the regenerated forest.

Lao Cai authorities mobilized more than 500 people, including soldiers, militants, policeman of 13 communes in the district of Sa Pa to stamp the fire.

It was very hard for fire-fighters to extinguish the fire because of the hot weather and strong wind. However, at 3pm on March 6, the fire was controlled.

At the altitude of 1,800m, it was difficult to supply food and water for the fire-fighting forces.

The local government had to hire young native people who know the area well to carry food to the fire-fighters.

Urgent measures taken to prevent forest fires

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent an urgent instruction to people's committees in cities and provinces on Wednesday asking them to promptly strengthen inspections of fire-related agricultural practices such as burning terraced fields in order to lower the risk of forest fire.

The request followed alarming forest fires in the northern mountainous region, the Central Highlands and southwest, which have been seriously affected by prolonged dry weather.

The highest-level alert was announced in 19 cities and provinces nationwide, and 12 others were warned of serious forest fires, according to a report released yesterday by the Viet Nam Forestry Administration's Forest Management Department.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the National Steering Committee on Forest Protection and Development were assigned to co-operate with local People's Committees to ensure safety in high-risk provinces and cities.

Local authorities were asked to keep a close watch on the warning system and promptly report any blaze to the administration's hotline 098 666 8 333.

Dung also required localities to prepare fire-fighting teams, materials and equipment to cope with forest fires when needed.

Many provinces and cities face the risk of forest fires and have sounded very high levels of alerts during the dry season, according to the Department of Forest Management.

Dong Nai, An Giang, Bac Can, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Hoa Binh, Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Nghe An, Ninh Thuan, Tay Ninh, and Yen Bai have put out a level-five alert and warned that if fires do break out they will spread widely.

Ha Noi, Bac Giang, Ba Ria, Cao Bang, Dong Thap, Ha Nam, Long An, Ninh Binh, and Thanh Hoa sounded level four alerts.

A few forest fires broke out last week.

Because of the dry season, the park's management board focuses on protecting the forest by banning people from burning fields as a precautionary measure.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said all localities have to implement forest-protection and fire-prevention regulations and improve their fire fighting capabilities.

They should educate people about the dangers of forest fires and measures to prevent them, he added.

Le Ha