Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews on June 8, Truong Thi Thanh Huyen, chairwoman of the Phuc Loc Commune People's Committee, said authorities had successfully contained a forest fire that reignited in the Ru Xuan hill forest area.
The blaze was first detected on the evening of June 7 when residents spotted flames spreading across the hillside.
Flames erupt in the Ru Xuan forest area in Phuc Loc Commune on the night of June 7 (Photo: Nguyen Viet).
Prolonged dry weather, strong winds and thick vegetation fuelled the fire, causing it to spread rapidly through the forest.
From hundreds of metres away, towering flames and columns of smoke were clearly visible.
Immediately after receiving reports of the fire, local authorities mobilised hundreds of personnel, including police officers, military forces, militia members, forest rangers, youth organisations and local residents.
To reach the scene, firefighting teams had to climb steep and rugged terrain in darkness.
The affected area consisted mainly of acacia plantations and sections of pine forest, creating a significant risk of the blaze spreading further.
After nearly four hours of firefighting operations, the fire was largely brought under control by around 11 pm on June 7.
However, emergency teams remained on site overnight to monitor smouldering hotspots and prevent a flare-up.
On the morning of June 8, flames reappeared in several locations, prompting authorities to mobilise hundreds more personnel to the mountain area to contain and extinguish the fire completely.
“The fire reignited this morning but was quickly brought under control and extinguished. Initial assessments indicate that about one hectare of forest was affected. Authorities are continuing to determine the exact cause and extent of the damage,” Huyen said.
Emergency crews climb the mountain and cut firebreaks in hot, windy conditions on June 8 (Photo: Nguyen Viet).
According to Nghe An Province’s Steering Committee for Forest Management, Protection, Development and Forest Fire Prevention and Control, the ongoing heatwave has placed tens of thousands of hectares of forest at extremely high risk of fire.
More than 24,700 hectares of pine and mixed eucalyptus plantations in lowland areas are particularly vulnerable because of their high oil content and flammability.
In mountainous areas, more than 42,500 hectares of bamboo forests and over 173,500 hectares of mixed timber and bamboo forests are also facing elevated fire risks as extreme weather conditions persist.
