Dry weather raises fire alert in Dien Bien

Dien Bien (VNA) - Hundreds of hectares of forests in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien, which were blanketed under ice and snow in the strongest cold spell in years in late January, are now at high fire alert during this prolonged period of dry weather.

The forests in Toa Tinh commune, Tuan Giao district have become dried and dehydrated, turning brown and burnt-red, raising the risk of forest fires to extremely high levels, particularly from the commune to the Pha Din Pass along National Road No. 6.

Chairman of the communal People’s Committee Mua A De said more than 260 hectares of forests have been damaged.

Local authorities have called on residents to clean up the dried plants to reduce fire risks, while increasing the monitoring of the forests and getting well prepared for fighting wildfire.

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tuan Giao district Vu Van Duc said the January chill has taken a heavy toll on approximately 2,000 hectares of forests. The most affected localities are Toa Tinh and Tenh Phong communes.

Publicity campaigns have been conducted to raise local residents’ awareness of fire prevention, he added.-VNA