The directive, issued under an official dispatch dated June 25, calls on local authorities to be on high alert and treat forest fire prevention and firefighting as a top priority amid increasingly severe weather conditions.

According to the dispatch, many provinces in the northern and central regions have been experiencing prolonged heatwaves, leaving large forest areas under alert V, the country’s highest forest fire warning level, indicating an extremely dangerous risk of wildfire.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported that 25 forest fires have broken out since early June, destroying more than 90 hectares of forest in provinces including Ninh Binh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Phu Tho, Quang Tri, Hue and Quang Ngai.

One of the largest incidents occurred between June 21 and 23 in Nghe An Province, where nearly 1,000 people were mobilised to contain a forest fire.

The ministry also warned that El Niño conditions could develop from late June, increasing the likelihood of extreme heat, widespread drought and unusual storm patterns. Average temperatures nationwide are forecast to be 0.5–1.5°C above the long-term average, while rainfall could decline by 10–25%.

Temperatures in several provinces stretching from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai are expected to exceed 40°C in the coming days, further heightening wildfire risks and threatening forests, the environment and local communities.

Under the Prime Minister’s directive, chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees will bear primary responsibility for forest fire prevention and firefighting in their respective localities.

Local authorities were instructed to strengthen inspections, closely monitor forest fire risks and strictly enforce regulations on forest protection. They are also required to maintain round-the-clock emergency response teams, tighten control over the use of fire in and around forests, particularly slash-and-burn farming and vegetation clearing, and ensure that fires are detected and contained before they spread.

The dispatch also requires local governments to prepare evacuation plans for residents in high-risk areas when necessary and ensure sufficient equipment, funding and emergency supplies for firefighting operations and post-fire recovery.

Authorities were further instructed to strengthen public awareness campaigns on forest protection, thoroughly investigate the causes of forest fires, strictly handle violations and hold local leaders accountable where negligence contributes to fire outbreaks.

The Prime Minister also called on local authorities to closely monitor weather forecasts and wildfire warnings to improve preparedness and ensure timely reporting to facilitate inter-provincial support when major fires occur.

Media organisations were tasked with intensifying public communication on forest fire prevention and regularly updating weather forecasts and wildfire warnings during the peak heat season.

Wildfires break out in Central Vietnam as extreme heat pushes temperatures above 40°C

VOV.VN - A series of forest and vegetation fires broke out across Nghe An, Quang Tri and several central Vietnamese localities on June 7 as temperatures soared above 39-40°C.