Decision No. 127/2000/QĐ-BNN-KL Issuing regulations on issuing forest fire forecasts, warnings, and measures to organize and implement forest fire prevention and extinguishing.

Pursuant to …;

Issuing regulations on issuing forecasts, warnings, and measures for organizing the implementation of forest fire prevention and extinguishing

BỘ TRƯỞNG BỘ NÔNG NGHIỆP & PTNT

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Pursuant to Decision No. 73/CP dated November 1, 1995 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Pursuant to the Forest Protection and Development Law dated August 12, 1991;

Pursuant to Decree No. 22/CP dated March 9, 1995 of the Government on the issuance of regulations on forest fire prevention and extinguishing;

Pursuant to Directive No. 19/TTg of the Prime Minister dated April 17, 1999 on urgent measures for forest fire prevention and extinguishing;

Pursuant to Decision No. 1856 NN/KL-QĐ dated November 1, 1996 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the construction of forest fire forecast levels;

At the proposal of the Director of the Forest Protection Department and the Director of the Science and Technology Department and Forest Fire Prevention and Control Department,

These regulations on forest fire forecast levels, warnings, and measures for organizing the implementation of forest fire prevention and extinguishing are hereby issued.

DECISION:

Article 1. This decision takes effect from the date of signature.

Article 2The Heads of the Ministry's Office, the Director of the Forest Protection Department, the Director of the Science and Technology Department and Forest Fire Prevention and Control Department, the Directors of the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Chiefs of the Forest Protection Services of the provinces and centrally governed cities, and the heads of relevant units under the Ministry shall be responsible for implementing this decision./.

Article 3. DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

REGULATIONS

(Issued together with Decision No. 127/2000/QĐ-BNN-KL of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development dated December 11, 2000)

Article 1. These regulations stipulate the methods for determining forest fire levels, forecasting methods, and warning regulations for forest fire prevention and extinguishing in various ecological regions of the country. Article 2. Forest fire prevention and extinguishing is the responsibility and duty of every citizen.

Article 3. Units directly managing forest protection, forest owners shall advise local People's Committees where there are forests to organize the implementation of forest fire forecasting and prevention.

Chapter 1:

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Article 4. Organizations, units, enterprises, and military forces stationed in areas with forests and adjacent to forests shall strictly comply with forest fire forecast levels and warnings when an alarm is issued.

Article 5. Heads of organizations and units shall be responsible for educating and urging staff and soldiers to comply with current regulations on forest protection, fire prevention, and actively participating in forest fire extinguishing.

Article 6. Forest Protection agencies at all levels shall be responsible for organizing forest fire forecasts and promptly informing forest fire forecast levels from central to local authorities during the fire season.

Article 2.

FORECAST LEVELS, WARNINGS, AND ALARM ISSUANCE FOR FOREST FIRE PREVENTION AND EXTINGUISHING

Forest fire forecast levels and warnings consist of five levels from Level I to Level V; the warning sign for forest fire prevention and extinguishing is half a circle with an outer diameter of 2.5 meters and an inner diameter of 1.8 meters, white background, red border, and an arrow (rotatable) indicating forecast levels from Level I to Level V. The method for calculating forest fire forecast levels and tables for forest fire forecast levels have been issued by the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities where there are forests.

Article 3

- Warning Level I: Low likelihood of forest fires, the arrow on the sign points to I.

Chapter 2

+ The Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune directs the Forest Fire Prevention and Extinguishing Command and forest owners to cooperate with the Forest Protection Service to implement forest fire prevention and extinguishing plans.

Article 4

+ Organize inspections, guide production zones, educate about forest fire prevention and extinguishing, and ensure proper burning techniques for clearing land.

- Warning Level II: Moderate likelihood of forest fires, the arrow on the sign points to II.

+ The Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune directs the Forest Fire Prevention and Extinguishing Command and forest owners to strengthen inspections, urge the deployment of personnel to guard against fires, and provide technical guidance for clearing land.

- Warning Level III: High likelihood of widespread forest fires, the arrow on the sign points to III.

+ Dry weather conditions persist, making forest fires likely, especially in coniferous, acacia, pine, bamboo, and melaleuca forests.

+ The Chairman of the People's Committee of the district or town directs the Forest Fire Prevention and Extinguishing Command and the Forest Protection Service to urge forest owners to prevent forest fires and prohibit burning land for cultivation.

+ Forest owners must regularly check the guarding and management forces, particularly those protecting newly planted forests.

+ Guarding forces must be on duty 10 hours a day (from 10 AM to 8 PM), paying special attention to peak hours.

+ When a forest fire occurs, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune may mobilize all available forces and means to extinguish the fire.

- Warning Level IV: High risk of large-scale forest fires, the arrow on the sign points to IV.

+ Dry weather persists, increasing the risk of large-scale forest fires, with rapid spread of flames.

+ The Chairman of the People's Committee of the district or town and the Forest Fire Prevention and Extinguishing Command directly direct forest fire prevention and extinguishing activities in their respective areas.

+ Forest owners and Forest Protection forces must strictly inspect key fire-prone areas.

+ Guarding forces must be on watchtowers and outside the forest, ensuring 12-hour shifts (from 9 AM to 9 PM), especially during peak hours, to detect fires early, issue warnings, and mobilize forces and means to extinguish them immediately.

+ Districts should request provincial support for additional firefighting forces and equipment if necessary.

+ Forecasters must closely monitor meteorological and hydrological conditions to provide timely forecasts and announcements via computer networks and mass media regarding daily fire levels and situations in the locality.

- Warning Level V: Extremely dangerous, prolonged dry and drought conditions increase the likelihood of large-scale fires in all types of forests, with very rapid spread of flames, the arrow on the sign points to V.

+ The Chairman of the People's Committee of the province directly directs the Forest Protection Service, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Provincial Forest Fire Prevention and Extinguishing Command, the District and Commune Forest Fire Prevention and Extinguishing Commands, and forest owners. forest guard stations must ensure continuous surveillance 24/7 (from 9 am to 9 pm daily), especially during peak hours. Timely detection of fire points, alarm issuance, and mobilization of firefighting forces and equipment are required.

+ The district requests the province to strengthen firefighting forces and equipment when necessary.

+ Forecasters must be well-informed about meteorological and hydrological conditions to provide timely forecasts and notifications via computer networks and mass media regarding the fire danger level and daily forest fire situations in the locality.

- Alarm Level V: Extremely dangerous, dry weather and prolonged drought conditions pose a high risk of large-scale fires in all types of forests, with rapid fire spread rates indicated by an arrow pointing to the number V on the warning sign.

+ The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee directly oversees the Forest Protection Service, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Provincial Fire Prevention and Control Task Force, district and commune levels, and forest owners.

+ Fire prevention and firefighting forces cooperate with forest rangers to intensify strict inspections in key fire-prone areas, ensuring 24/7 coverage, and to strengthen checks on people and vehicles entering the forests.

+ Regularly announce rules for using fire in forests and adjacent areas.

+ When a fire occurs, immediately mobilize forces and equipment to extinguish it, conduct investigations to verify the cause of the fire, and rigorously pursue and punish the perpetrators.

+ When necessary, request central support in terms of manpower and firefighting equipment.

+ During the forest fire season, forecasters must closely monitor weather, meteorological, and hydrological conditions to provide regular and continuous daily forecasts and information through mass media outlets. Particularly when forecasts reach levels IV and V, forecasters must ensure clear communication during peak fire periods and promptly report fire prevention and firefighting activities to higher authorities.

Article 5. Fire warning signs shall be made of metal and placed along forest edges, at forest entrances, in areas with high pedestrian traffic, at Forest Ranger Stations, Forestry Schools, agencies, and units located within or near forests, following a unified national model guided by the Forest Protection Department.

Article 6. After consolidating weather forecasts from the National Meteorological and Hydrological Forecast Center and forest fire forecast stations in provinces and centrally-administered cities, the Forest Fire Prevention and Control Steering Committee of the Ministry shall submit to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for a decision to issue a warning; upon receiving a warning order, local Forest Fire Prevention and Control Command Posts at all levels shall organize and implement fire prevention and control measures in accordance with the prescribed guidelines in the "Measures for Organizing and Implementing Forest Fire Prevention and Control in Our Country's Ecosystem" chart.

Chapter 3

ORGANIZATION AND FORCES FOR FOREST FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Article 7. Provincial People's Committees of centrally-administered cities shall regularly consolidate and improve the structure of Forest Fire Prevention and Control Command Posts at provincial, district, commune, and town levels in accordance with Government Decree No. 22/CP dated March 9, 1995. Command Posts at all levels shall assist the same-level People's Committees in regularly inspecting and urging forest owners and related units to implement fire forecasts and warnings to strictly protect forest resources throughout the fire season according to the forest fire forecast network construction plan attached as an appendix.

Article 8.

1. Forest Protection Organizations at all levels shall advise the Chairpersons of the same-level People's Committees to guide forest owners in developing fire prevention and control plans; regularly disseminate fire prevention and control regulations and shifting cultivation techniques according to the table of regulations on shifting cultivation zones attached as an appendix; promptly inform key fire-prone areas about fire situations and fire prevention and control warnings; direct forecast stations to collect and calculate fire prevention and control forecasts accurately for each region.

2. Forest Protection Organizations shall coordinate with Fire Prevention and Control Police to regularly inspect the implementation of forest fire prevention and control, including both natural and newly planted forests, and periodically organize reviews and evaluations of fire prevention and control in each province.

3. Forest Protection Organizations shall coordinate with legal agencies to investigate, verify, and strictly and promptly handle violations of forest fire prevention and control regulations.

Article 9.

1. Agencies, units, forest owners, enterprises, Forestry and Agricultural Schools shall cooperate with military units stationed in and around forests to establish voluntary fire prevention and control teams and have the responsibility to coordinate with local Forest Fire Prevention and Control Command Posts and follow their professional guidance on fire prevention and control.

2. Forest Protection Organizations shall coordinate with Fire Prevention and Control Police to train fire prevention and control skills and expertise for fire prevention and control teams.

Chapter 4

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR FOREST FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL WORK

Article 10.

1. Annually, units base their budget planning for fire prevention and control forecasting work on Circular No. 06/TT-LB dated January 22, 1996 of the Ministry of Finance - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding guidelines for planning, allocating, managing, and settling accounts for fire prevention and control forecasting expenses, to prepare budgets for fire prevention and control forecasting work at the local level.

- At the central level: The Planning and Planning Department, the Forest Protection Department, and the Financial Accounting Department shall plan fire prevention and control forecasting funds for submission to the Ministry for review and approval.

- At the local level: Annually, the Forest Fire Prevention and Control Command Posts of centrally-administered provinces and cities, and the Forest Protection Branches shall base their budget plans for fire forecasting and warning work on the needs of fire forecasting and warning information, and submit them to the provincial or city People's Committees for approval.

2. For plantations funded by Forestry and Agricultural Schools, units, and individuals, these forest owners must allocate a portion of their plantation project funds annually for fire prevention and control activities.

Article 11.

Funds allocated for fire prevention and control forecasting and warning work must be used for their intended purposes and meet technical requirements; Command Posts at all levels have the responsibility to closely coordinate with relevant sectors to regularly guide, monitor, and inspect the implementation of fire forecasting and warning information.

Chapter 5

ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

Article 12.

1. The Forest Protection Department and the Office of the Permanent Forest Fire Prevention and Control Headquarters are specialized directing bodies responsible for assisting the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in coordinating with the General Administration of Meteorology and Hydrology to establish a National Forest Fire Forecasting Center to provide forecasts and warnings through computer networks and mass media; they shall direct localities to organize fire prevention and control work according to warning levels nationwide.

2. The Forest Fire Prevention and Control Command at the provincial and centrally governed city levels, in collaboration with the Forest Management Inspectorate, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, and local meteorological and hydrological stations, are responsible for assisting People's Committees at all levels in establishing a forest fire prediction network from the provincial level down to the grassroots level; organizing and directing the implementation of fire prediction work and fire prevention and control information dissemination from the provincial level to villages, hamlets, communes, and wards throughout the fire season, particularly during dry, drought, and arid months when forest fires are likely to occur locally.

Article 13. The Steering Committee for Forest Fire Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall be responsible for guiding, directing, and inspecting the implementation of this Regulation by relevant levels and sectors in provinces and centrally governed cities, in coordination with related ministries and sectors to develop and promulgate technical procedures and standards for forest fire prevention and control, and periodically report to the Prime Minister on the status of forest fire prediction and forest fire prevention and control activities.

Article 14.

Organizations and individuals who achieve success in forest fire prediction and compliance with fire warning levels shall be rewarded according to state regulations.

Article 15. Any person violating state regulations on forest fire prevention and control, depending on the nature and degree of violation, shall be subject to administrative penalties or criminal prosecution.

Article 16. During the implementation of the contents stipulated herein, if there are any difficulties or new issues arising, localities must promptly report to the Ministry for amendments and supplements to ensure appropriateness.

DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

                                                                                           VICE MINISTER

                                                                                       (Signed)

                                                                                                Nguyen Van Dang