[Commentary] Why do fires occur frequently in the Southwest? What are the difficulties in fighting forest fires? At the press conference on the prevention and control of forest and grassland fires in the spring and summer of the State Council Office on April 9, the Emergency Management Department responded.

【Explanation】 According to reports, in the recent situation of fighting forest fires in Sichuan and Yunnan, there are mainly difficulties in the local weather, the difficult terrain, the difficulty of three-dimensional fire deployment, and the easy re-ignition.

[Same period] Peng Xiaoguo, Executive Deputy Director of the Office of the National Forest and Grassland Fire Fighting Command Office

One is that the weather is complicated. The southwestern forest area has a typical subtropical plateau monsoon climate with dry and hot valley climate characteristics. This season the relative humidity is lower than 20%. The monsoon, mountain wind and valley wind are intertwined, and turbulence occurs at any time. Level 8, level 8 or even higher; the second is the difficulty of the terrain. The southwestern forest area is located in the Hengduan Mountains, spanning multiple geomorphic units, with steep mountain slopes, deep valleys, dense forests, and large terrain height differences. For example, the average elevation of the Ganzi Jiulong fire site was above 3820 meters, and the highest point of the fire was higher than this. This kind of terrain restricts our vehicles and large mechanical equipment to be difficult to drive to the fire. The firefighters usually carry on foot for five or six hours to reach the fire. There are many (fire points) that should be disposed on the cliffs. It's very difficult.

[Explanation] In addition, in the process of fighting, affected by the terrain of the high mountains and valleys and the pressure of the water delivery, it is often difficult to use water to extinguish the equipment. Due to the thin air in the plateau, the power and lift of the helicopter are reduced, and it is difficult to accurately spray the water on the fire line. The humus layer in the forest area is thick, and there are many combustible materials. It is easy to reignite after extinguishing. At the same time, Peng Xiaoguo said that from the perspective of fire extinguishing capacity, there are some shortcomings and restrictions in fire extinguishing equipment and means. In the next step, relevant departments will also respond from various aspects such as strengthening monitoring and improving security.

[Same period] Peng Xiaoguo, Executive Deputy Director of the Office of the National Forest and Grassland Fire Fighting Command Office

The first is to strengthen monitoring and advance warning. Strengthen the application of satellite monitoring, lightning monitoring, remote video monitoring, aircraft patrol, etc., use scientific analysis and prediction of information technology, and timely release warning information to create conditions for early detection and early disposal; Yes) Improve the command mechanism and standardize the command; Fourth, strengthen the support and integrate the action. The fifth is scientific rescue to ensure safety. Strengthen risk research and judgment response, strengthen command coordination, strictly control fire sites, and prevent and control risks with rigid constraints and a scientific attitude.

[Explanation] Field fire sources are the most important cause of forest and grassland fires. According to statistics, over 97% of the forest and grassland fires that have been found to have been caused by fire in the past decade have been caused by human causes. From March 15, 2020, the Office of the National Forest and Grassland Fire Prevention and Fire Control Headquarters organized for the first time nationwide a three-month field fire source special control operation to severely crack down on various wild fire activities.

[Same period] Peng Xiaoguo, Executive Deputy Director of the Office of the National Forest and Grassland Fire Fighting Command Office

Emphasis will be placed on controlling outstanding issues such as the loss of control of agricultural fires, the absence of supervision of sacrificial fires, and the “loose and soft” control of fires that violate regulations. As of April 5, the country has accumulatively dispatched 76,000 inspectors, investigated and rectified more than 52,000 hidden dangers, dispatched more than 66,000 police officers, investigated and punished 4331 illegal fires in the wild, punished 1,802 people, and held 238 accountable.

【Explanation】 According to statistics, an average of 1,035 forest fires occurred in the first quarter of the past five years, accounting for 40% of the annual fires. There were 392 fires in the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of 37.2% compared with the same period in 2019.

(Reporter Shan Lu from Beijing)

Editor in charge: [Ji Xiang]