Chairman of the People’s Committee of Cà Mau Province Huỳnh Quốc Việt (second from the left) inspects the readiness and operation of fire-fighting equipment. — VNA/VNS Photo Huỳnh Thế An

CÀ MAU – Of the more than 33,000ha of drought-hit forest in the southernmost province of Cà Mau, more than 13,530ha has fire potential rated as “dangerous” (Level 4) and nearly 4,000ha “extremely dangerous” (Level 5), local authorities said.

The forest protection sub-department under the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said on March 15 that most of the drought-hit forests are located in the areas of the U Minh Hạ Forestry Company, the U Minh Hạ National Park, the forest protection unit of Hòn Khoai Island, and U Minh and Trần Văn Thời Districts.

Those at high fire risk concentrate in the areas of the U Minh Hạ Forestry Company, the U Minh Hạ National Park; Khánh Bình Tây Bắc and Trần Hợi Communes in Trần Văn Thời District; and Khánh An, Khánh Lâm, and Nguyễn Phích Communes of U Minh District.

Lê Văn Hải, Head of the Forest Protection Sub-department, said this year’s dry season is forecast to witness the El Nino phenomenon and prolonged heat, leading to more severe water scarcity compared to the same period last year.

Water levels of canals in U Minh Hạ Forest are now less than one metre, and below 1.5 - 2 metres in some other areas.

Meanwhile, there remain over two months before the dry season ends. This will heighten risks of forest fire as well as water shortages for firefighting, according to Hải.

However, forest owners had readied fire prevention and control plans and also held fire drills, Hải said, adding that the sub-department had also instructed forest owners, localities, and residents to engage in the work.

Cà Mau has not recorded any forest fires over the last three dry seasons. — VNS