Two people died and four were injured while fighting the fire.
The Dien Bien Region 4 People's Court on October 30 sentenced Thao A Hong, 35, from Huoi Sang Village, Na Hy Commune, to two years in prison for violating fire prevention and fighting regulations.
Thao A Hong at the court (Photo: Dien Bien Police).
According to court records, at around 1.45 pm on April 3, Hong used fire to smoke out bees and collect honey near kilometre 6+300 of National Highway 4H in Na Sang Commune, without taking adequate fire safety precautions.
The flames spread to dry vegetation before quickly reaching surrounding woodland.
Although he noticed the fire, Hong did not try to extinguish it or notify the authorities, instead leaving the scene.
At around 4 pm the same day, he spotted smoke rising from a forested area further up the slope but again failed to report the incident and left.
The fire destroyed more than 8.3 hectares of production forest, causing losses estimated at over VND 180 million (approximately USD 7,000).
Two people died and four others were injured while taking part in firefighting efforts.
However, the investigation found no direct causal link between Hong's violations of fire prevention and fighting regulations and the deaths and injuries.
Based on the evidence collected, investigators charged Hong with violating fire safety regulations. The Region 4 People's Court in Dien Bien Province held his first-instance trial on October 30 and handed down the two-year sentence.
Hong was also ordered to pay more than VND 180 million in compensation to Residential Group 1 in Na Sang Commune.
