Disaster management committee issues instructions on wildfire prevention

The Central Disaster Management Committee has instructed authorities across the country to pay close attention to the prevention and monitoring of forest fires, after fires have broken out in several provinces.

Soldiers attempt to contain a fire at Phou Khao Khuay mountain in Pakngum district, Vientiane.

This week the Committee’s Chairman circulated a statement to local branches of the committee concerning the prevention of and response to wildfires.
The Committee advised subsidiary committee members to carefully monitor their local areas for fire outbreaks, especially in at-risk locations, and to prepare personnel, vehicles, materials, equipment, a budget, and the materials needed to deal with a fire in a timely manner.
Local authorities at all levels, together with local residents, are to be alerted to the risk of fires and must be prepared to respond promptly in the event of a fire.
If a fire does occur in any locality, that locality is responsible for tackling the fire and must report it to the relevant disaster management committee as soon as possible.
The hot and dry weather creates conditions that lead to the rapid spread of wildfires, with fires now burning uncontrolled in Vientiane and the provinces of Luang Prabang, Khammuan and Borikhamxay.
In Vientiane, 400-600 soldiers, emergency rescue volunteers and local people have teamed up to bring a wildfire under control at Phou Khao Khuay mountain in Pakngum district, where at least 300 hectares of land are believed to be affected. As of the time of writing, the fire had not been contained.
The fire has spread to more than 300 hectares of land in the villages of Vernkabao, Xienglaena, Xienglaetha and Non. Efforts are concentrated on preventing the fire reaching nearby tourist attractions such as Tad Tham Pha, Tad Vangluang Taleo and Nam Pien Yorlapa.
Elsewhere, a fire has been burning in Sangthong district for seven days and efforts to extinguish it have so far been unsuccessful. Local authorities called out a fire crew to help put out the fire, which is spreading in the area of Phou Phanang mountain.
Last week, district leaders called for assistance from government officials, soldiers, the police, village authorities and adults to put out the fire in the Phou Phanang National Forest, which has spread through three villages.
On March 27, 400 soldiers and other groups teamed up in an attempt to extinguish the fire, which has already scorched over 100 hectares.
In Luang Prabang province, soldiers in Viengkham district were also called on to bring a forest fire under control.
Large swathes of woodland across the country are being burnt deliberately by farmers to clear land of vegetation in preparation for planting the rice crop.
Last week two people died when they were trapped in burning scrubland after setting fires to clear land for rice planting.

By Times reporters
 (Latest Update March 30, 2023)