QUẢNG NAM  — Functional forces of the central province of Quảng Nam have managed to contain three fires in Hiệp Đức District’s planted forests.  

The district authorities reported that by around 4am Thursday, two forest fires in Quế Thọ Commune were mostly under control. Initial reports showed that about 100ha of forest were damaged.

Hiệp Đức District mobilised all human forces including police, military and rangers to extinguish the forest fires within one day.

At noon Wednesday, two fires broke out at the three-year-old acacia planted forest in Mỹ Thạnh Village in Quế Thọ Commune.

Local functional forces quickly deployed methods to extinguish the fires with green branches, while runways were created to prevent the spread of the fire.

Despite this, the fire spread to Khe Cái planted forest in the neighboring commune of Hiệp Thuận.

At noon Thursday, functional forces were able to approach the fire in Khe Cái.

However, Nguyễn Văn Tiễn, commander of the Hiệp Đức District Military Command, said that firefighters faced problems because of the mountainous and hilly terrain. The fire had broken out strongly and quickly spread over seven hectares.

The local forces created a runway area in the forest to prevent the spread of the fire.

The cause was initially said to be due to the carelessness of yet unidentified forest growers.

Because of the prolonged hot weather, the Quảng Nam Provincial Forest Protection Department has issued warnings to localities about the danger level of forest fires.

The province prohibits people from starting fires in forests and nearby forests. — VNS