According to the department, provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai in central Vietnam were facing the highest wildfire alert level due to intense heat and dry hot winds, creating highly flammable conditions.
Authorities warned that any fires in these areas could spread rapidly and become difficult to control.
In the Central Highlands and parts of southern Vietnam, including Gia Lai and Lam Dong provinces, forest fire risks were also assessed at dangerous to extremely dangerous levels, particularly in pine forests, melaleuca forests and dry dipterocarp forests.
Meanwhile, several northern provinces, including Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son and Bac Ninh, were placed under a high forest fire warning because of increasingly dry conditions.
Officials said large amounts of dry vegetation, combined with slash-and-burn farming and uncontrolled burning activities, were significantly increasing the risk of wildfires.
Peole are urged not to use fire in or near forests and called on forest owners and ranger forces to strengthen 24-hour patrols in high-risk areas.
The forestry agency also warned that El Niño conditions could return from May 2026, potentially leading to a harsher dry season in the coming months despite scattered rain forecast this week.
