1
INTRODUCTION

1. The urgency of the thesis
Forest fire is an incredibly dangerous disaster that can do harm to natural
resources and the entire environment. Its devastating ability might badly affect
a restricted area, a whole nation and even the surroundings.
Despite the constant attention of all sectors, the application of various
technical methods and the coordination of related forces such as forest
rangers, fire protection police, the army and residents living near forest
edges in our country as a whole and in Hanoi in particular, the situation is
anything but brighter. It is believed that the reason lies in the simplicity of
applied techniques which are based on the allocation of different forest types
and the manual evaluation of fire risk. Besides, no specific fire regime is
recorded. Certain effective methods such as prescribed burning, silviculture,
fire-resistance runways are yet to be research subject.
Moreover, the incorporation of forest rangers and the police brings out
negligible results in spite of detailed legal regulations on their functions,
especially when it comes to intensive fire. The coordination between related
forces seems to be ill-organised and somehow pretentious.
Wildfire has promptly become one of the most urgent issues in Hanoi as
a result of the vast expansion of combustible forests such as pine forest,
acacia and eucalypt forest. Hence comes the importance of fire prevention
and fighting. To maximize the practicality of fire protection, suitable
methods should be wisely applied while related forces and the community
get the best out of themselves in mitigating fire cases.
With a view to actualising the abovementioned tasks, the author has
finally chosen the thesis topic of “Research on solutions to improve the
efficiency of forest fire prevention and fighting in Hanoi”. New findings of
the thesis stay focus on how to accomplish fire protection measures,
especially the coordination of participating forces.

- A proposal of newly developed techniques for fire prevention and
fighting in Hanoi
- A proposal of coordinating functional forces of fire prevention and
fighting suitable for both natural and socio-economic situations of Hanoi
6. New findings of the thesis
- Identify the flexible proportion of inflammable materials under forest
canopy as a solid scientific proof for fire protection methods in Hanoi
- Analyse the reality and propose a suitable model coordinating forces of
fire prevention and fighting accordingly
7. The thesis outline
Apart from the introduction, conclusion, references and appendixes
parts, the thesis is divided into 3 volumes:
Volume 1: Generalities of the research (29 pages)
Volume 2: Contents and methods of the research (16 pages)
Volume 3: Research and discussion results (86 pages)


3
Volume 1
GENERALITIES OF THE RESEARCH
1.1. Over the world
It was during the 20th century that forest fire prevention and fighting
was first studied. At the time, research mainly came from economically
developed nations such as America, Russia, Canada and was further
discovered in forestry-centric countries.
Former studies on the nature of wildfire have so far reached a conclusion
that the main cause of fire is the interaction of heat sources, oxidants and
inflammable materials, which are also known as the Combustion Triangle.
There are 3 types of forest fire according to scientists: crown fire,
surface fire and underground fire. A tyical case may contain up to 3 types of

greenbelts are Nepal black cedar, Agave americana, Indian gooseberry,
Aporosa, Cratoxylum prunifolium, Burmese grape and Acacia mangium.
Researchers have successfully figured out a fire precaution method
applicable for certain provinces such as Quang Ninh, Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa,
Nghe An, Binh Dinh, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Lam
Dong and so on. Some like Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan have even
built up a special fire precaution software.
Multifunctional fire fighting car was first manufactured in Asia (Duong
Van Tai, 2010).
Timely discoveries and information of forest fire have also been tried
out, which helps construct 2 softwares using remote sensing images from
observation stations (Tran Quang Bao, 2016).
Social resolutions and the efforts of the whole community in fire
prevention and fighting have been praised in a number of relevant studies,
for instance the research of Dang Vu Can (1992), of Le Dang Giang (1974),
of Pham Ngoc Hung (1994), of Vuong Van Quynh (2012), of Pham Tuan
Dung (2014) and of Vu Duc Quynh (2016).
1.3. In Hanoi
A national fire forecast measure developed by Nesterop’s formular
converting the K value from 0 to 1 when rainfall is not less than 6mm has
already been applied in Hanoi.
Recent fire cases are recorded mainly in Soc Son, Ba Vi and My Duc
(Hanoi). A lack of attention in accordance with insigificant forest volume
stands a good reason for the frequency of wildfires in those areas. So far
there has been no specialised research on the development of fire prevention
and fighting techniques suitable for different conditions.
1.4. Review on the generalities of the research on fire prevention and
fighting all over the world and in Vietnam
1.4.1. Strengths
In our nation, a large number of legal documents which regulate fire

2.1. Research contents
2.1.1. Research on facts and causes of forest fire in Hanoi
a. Research on facts of forest fire in Hanoi during 2009 – 2018 period
b. Research on causes of forest fire in Soc Son, Ba Vi and My Duc (Hanoi)
2.1.2. Research on the improvement of technical methods of forest fire
prevention and fighting in Hanoi
a. Research on recently applied fire prevention and fighting techniques
b. Research on building techniques of white and green fire-resistant
runways
c. Research on silvicultural techniques
d. Research on prescribed burning
e. Research on pine forest fire fighting methods
2.1.3. Research on the development of a model coordinating forest fire
protection forces in Hanoi
a. Research on the coordination of forces in fire prevention and fighting
in Hanoi
b. Research on factors affecting the efficiency of the coordination of
forces in fire prevention and fighting in Hanoi


6
c. Research on the development of a model coordinating forest fire
protection forces in Hanoi
2.2. Research methods
2.2.1. Methods of approaching
- Approach to the system
The forest system is regarded both natural and socio-economic. That
leads to the necessity to examine the impact of natural and socio-economic
elements at the same time.
- Approach to multisections


7
major characteristics be it high tree layer and cover, high coverage of shrub
and dry vegetation, regenerated trees and evergreen shrubs.
- Research on characteristics of combustible materials in Hanoi: Each
combustible material is examined on 25 boxes of 1m2 form distributed in
the corner and between the boxes. The mass and the humidity degree of
combustible materials are investigation criteria in this case.
Field research results have led the thesis to new findings of technical
measures of forest fire prevention and fighting in Hanoi such as the
construction technique of white and green runways, silvicultural technique
for fire prevention and fire fighting method for pine forest.
Method of studying prescribed burning to prevent fire:
The amount of objects that fall daily, monthly and annually as well as
their decomposition speed are under research. To conduct this kind of
research, 3 typical sample plots for a pine forest are selected which both
have the age of 5, distributing on the slope with the average area density of
600-700 trees per hectare and growing healthily. At each standard plot,
select 3 representative points to investigate the amount of fallen objects.
Select 3 consecutive days each month to collect them. A square net of 2m
long per dimension is stretched close to the ground for each study point. The
amount of objects falling into the net is collected and weighed, their
moisture level is analyzed at 8 am every day. This investigation process is
carried out within 6 months from August 2011 to the end of January 2012.
By analyzing the correlation between fallen objects and their
decomposition speed, certain simulation equations of accumulating
combustible materials under forest conditions over time are discovered. A
reasonable cycle of prescribed burning would be decided based on the
danger threshold of the volume of combustible materials.
The thesis has followed research results of forest conditions, the cycle

enormous.
3.1.2.2. Facts of forest fire by fire locations
Forest fire is regularly seen in densely forest-located areas such as Soc
Son, Ba Vi and My Duc. Soc Son was home to most wildfires with 226
cases in 10 years accounting for 82,78% of the total number.
3.1.2.3. Facts of forest fire by fire duration
The frequency of forest fire is often recorded in dry seasons which last
from October to March of the next year. December is the month that
observes the highest amount of fire with 5,7 cases per year at average. On
the contrary, the rest months of the year are regarded wet and rainy hence a
sharp decline in the number of wildfires.
3.1.3. Causes of forest fire
3.1.3.1. Natural condition
a. Weather condition
- Air temperature
Fire season are of no relevance to hot season in Hanoi for that time
notices an incredible rainfall. Fire season is then considered to be between
the end of winter and the beginning of summer. This actually represents
itself less dangerous and therefore fire control is no longer a too daunting
task.
- Rainfall


9
In general, fire season is dry season which means fainfall does act as an
impactful factor on fire risk. The variety of rainfall results in the variety of
forest fire in Hanoi.
- Level of humidity
An alarming low level of humidity is seen in mid-summer but this has
nothing to do with fire risk since rainfall is expected to rise soon.

some reasons the number can be smaller. The downgrade of combustible
materials is carried out every year in the whole city. However, this depends
heavily on funding source and the downgrade design. The width of a small
road for different forest types is typically 20m. However, the use of small
roads in combination with fire-resistant runways is not scientific and
appropriate. It is necessary to study further the width, density,… of these to
match with each forest status in Hanoi.
3.2.1.2. The reduction in inflammable materials
- Prescribed material burning: this is applied to certain forest types in
Soc Son only thus limitations are recorded in wide-range application.
- Forest cleaning: this is considered the owners’s regular activity to
collect unused materials under forest canopy.
3.2.2. Technical methods of forest fire prevention
3.2.2.1. Construction techniques of white and green runways
a. White fire-resistance runway
* The width of white fire-resistant runways in Hanoi
According to experiment results on the dependence of spark distance on
height of average fire in the research of Andrew Sullivan and Peter Ellis, an
equation has come out: Y = 1.9X3+4.0X2
In which:
Y: the distance to transport fire sparks (m)
X: the average flame height (m)
Table 3.1. Required width of white fire-resistant runway in
Hanoi
Type of forest

Evergreen
natural forest
Bamboo forest


9

10

Surface fire
Surface fire
Underground fire
Surface fire

3,0
4,0
1,2
5,0

50
200
9
300

50
200
10
300


11
Newly planted
forest

Underground fire

Bamboo forest
Restored forest
Age-old forest
Newly planted
forest

Distance of
Required
transporting
width of green
fire sparks
runway
(m)

Type of
possible fire

Average
flame height
(m)

Underground fire
Surface fire
Underground fire
Surface fire
Surface fire
Underground fire
Surface fire

0,7


* Distance between green fire-resistant runways


12
The averarge width of green runways is over 30m hence the respective
distance of 1200m or higher. The number can be improved once productivity
of plantations is assured. It can increase up to 500-700m with the
surrounding area of 25-50 ha.
* Plantations of green fire-resistant runways
Trees selected to grow across green runways ought to be fire-resistant
that create the ability to improve humidity and thus decrease possible fire
risk. Those are indigenious plantations capable of cohabitating with other
speciese which comprise a stable biome.
* Green runway restoration
Green fire-resistant runways are designated to prevent widespread fire
under the canopy. According to previous research, even if there is
inadequate width or low tree density in green runways, the volume of
combustible materials are so huge that there is every possibility that the
underground fire goes on spreading.
c. Innovative fire-resistance runway in Hanoi
It is possible that a new kind of runway with features of both white and
green ones is created, which would temporarily be called “innovative fireresistant runway”. It can be is created by clearing materials along mountain
tops or forest edges. The efficiency of newly developed runways is not
inferior to white runways whilst they can reduce water erosion.
3.2.2.2. Silvicultural technical solutions to forest fire prevention
Silviculture measures affect forest ecosystems including morphological
or ecological structure in order to orient the development of forests towards
reducing fire risk. Based on former research results, the thesis proposes a
number of silviculture measures including the clearance of evergreen shrubs,

3.2.2.3. Prescribed burning to prevent wildfires
a. Prescribed burning season
After analysing the principle of fire allocation in Hanoi by year during
2009-2018 period, fire season is determined to be from 15 last days of
October to 10 first days of November.
b. Prescribed burning period
Safe burning period is before 9 a.m and after 5 p.m.
c. Material accumulation for prescribed burning
The accumulation can also create white runways to control fire intensity.
This happens to be a dead-end task, however, to newly grown forests
whose main inflammable materials are grass and shrubs. In case like
that, pruning before collecting is necessary.
d. Fire control
Fire control is implemented by combining different technical elements
such as the selection of burning period, the construction of white fireresistant runways, forest cleaning, repeated prescribed burning, direct
fire fighting in case of unexpected flames.
e. Prescribed burning cycle and the annual proportion of prescribed
burning areas
* The accumulation speed of fallen objects
Measurement results of fallen objects from August 2011 to January 2012
have shown that the average volume of decomposing objects in pine forests
is 0,223% per day. The results are displayed in the table below.
Table 3.4. The volume of fallen objects in a pine forest


14
over a period of time
Vegetation
status


masson pine forest is 775 kg/ha per month or in other words 9300 kg/ha per
year. These numbers has a great effect on the thesis’ findings such as the
volume of fallen objects each year and the reduction of that volume in pine
forests.
* Prescribed burning cycle and the volume of combustible materials in
plantations
- Prescribed burning cycle in plantations
Vertical axis: Masson pine
Horizontal axis: Year

Figure 3.23: The accumulation of combustible materials grown after
prescribed burning
The volume of fallen objects in masson pine forest can be up to 12,3
ton/ha which might lead to seriously detrimental fire. Once prescribed
burning is applied, the volume of fallen objects accumulated over 3 years
will amount to over 10 ton/ha. The interval between 2 prescribed burning
times in a masson pine forest therefore lasts 3 years.
- The annual volume of prescribed burning
K% = 100/(prescribed burning cycle).
Therefore, the annual volume of prescribed burning of masson pine is
100/3=33%.
3.2.3. Một số biện pháp kỹ thuật chữa cháy rừng
* Characteristics of pine forest fire in Hanoi


15
In order to get a foundation of applying fire fighting methods and
determine characteristics of pine forest fire, the thesis organised a groupworking session between direct officials of fire fighting in Soc Son.
Table 3.6. Characteristics of pine forest fires in Hanoi
Slope


II

III

IV

V

Slow
underground
fire
Slow
underground
fire
Slow
underground
fire
Slow
underground
fire
Slow
underground
fire
Slow
underground
fire

Slow
underground

underground
fire
Rapid
underground
fire

Slow
underground
fire
Average
underground
fire
Average
underground
fire
Average
underground
fire
Rapid
underground
fire

Average
underground
fire
Average
underground
fire
Average
underground

over 60m/h.
Both direct and indirect fighting methods are favored. Direct methods
are those making use of hand-crafted tools and motor vehicle to put out fire
while indirect ones include forest clearance before fire starts to widely
spread.
d. Mixed underground fire and rapid surface fire
The average height of fire can be up to 3m and spreading speed is
usually 60-100m/h.
Both direct and indirect fighting methods are favored. Fire fighting tools
are lawn mower, high-tree infrastructure saw, stamping table, knife, hoe,
shovel, blower, hand pump, water tanker and so on.
e. Underground fire and rapid surface fire
The average height of fire can be up to 3m and spreading speed is more
than 100m/h.
This is the combination of high intensity underground and surface fire.
Both direct and indirect fighting methods are favored. Fire fighting tools are
lawn mower, high-tree infrastructure saw, stamping table, knife, hoe, shovel,
blower, hand pump, water tanker and so on.
3.3. The development of a model coordinating forest fire protection
forces in Hanoi
3.3.1. Facts of coordinating forest fire protection forces
3.3.1.1. Several legal documents on the coordination of forest fire protection
forces
3.3.1.2. The coordination of implementing fire protection methods

Figure 3.30. Real situation of the
coordination model of information
exchange

Figure 3.32. Real situation of safe

protection activities in Hanoi.
3.3.3. The improvement of a model coordinating forest fire protection
forces
3.3.3.1. Principles, objectives and main features of a model coordinating
forest fire protection forces
3.3.3.2. The improvement of a model coordinating forest fire
prevention forces

Figure 3.34. The coordination model
of information exchange of forest fire
prevention and fighting plans

Figure 3.36. The coordination model
of constructing and practicing forest
fire prevention and fighting plans


19

Figure 3.35. The coordination model of disseminating knowledge in
forest fire prevention and fighting
3.3.3.3. The improvement of a model coordinating forest fire fighting forces
a. Participants in forest fire fighting
- The community that include forest owners, local authorities and
relevant organizations
- Forest rangers
- Police officers that include fire prevention and fighting forces
- The army
b. Plans of different fire risk levels according to weather condition and
forest types in Hanoi


2
4
5

2
5
5

Table 3.8. Expert interview results concerning the relevance of options
for fire risk levels
Order
number

1

Coordination
options

Option 1

Relevance level
Extremely
Relevant
Irelevant
relevant
Ratio
Ratio
Rati
Quantity

12
13
14
15

Option 2
Option 3
Option 4
Option 5
Option 6
Option 7
Option 8
Option 9
Option 10
Option 11
Option 12
Option 13
Option 14
Option 15

21
15
19
14
20
24
21
23
20
21

1
3
4
0

16
40
24
44
20
4
16
8
20
16
4
12
16
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

armed forces to put out fire.
- Case 5: Fire risk level 5: Employ the community, forest ranger, police and
armed forces to put out fire.
Table 3.9. Expert interview results concerning the relevance of
coordination cases in forest fire fighting
Relevance level

Order
Extremely
Extremely
Extremely
Coordinatio
numbe
relevant
relevant
relevant
n cases
r
Quantit Quantit Quantit Quantit Quantit Quantit
1.
2.
3.
4.

Case 1
Case 2
Case 3
Case 4

y


0
0
0
0

0,0
0,0
0,0
0,0


21
5.
Case 5
24
96
1
4
0
0,0
Statistics from table 3.8 has shown that coordination proposals are
suitable for fire fighting in Hanoi. These can be combined with results from
table 3.7 to set up a fitting coordination model which is presented in the
figures below.

Figure 3.37. The coordination model in forest fire fighting of fire risk
level 1



- Forest fire in Hanoi usually takes place in the driest season which lasts
from October to 3 years afterwards. Fire objects are mainly pine forests in
Soc Son whilst 90% of other fires occur in Ba Vi and My Duc.


25
- Fire season in Hanoi lasts from November to December and from
March to April every year. Weather condition and forest types are impactful
factors in fire risk of Hanoi while the variation of rainfall greatly affects the
differentiation of fire risk in Hanoi.
- Socio-economic elements such as economic activities of individuals
and households, tourism activities without adequate instruction of fire
control, unsuitable economic support of forest fire prevention and fighting,
ineffective fire control system, inadequate awareness of forest fire and loose
organization put a strong impact on forest fire in Hanoi.
- Certain scientific methods to prevent fire suitable for the situation of
Hanoi are the construction of white and green runways in Soc Son with a
density level of 1-2km/100ha and innovative runways in Ba Vi and My Duc,
the development of mixed plantations with high fire resistance, the clearance
of evergreen shrubs, early pruning plantations and the restoration of
combustible materials.
- Prescribed burning of dry vegetation with runways or with crowds can
well be employed in the case of age-old pine forests. The cycle should last
about 3 to 4 years and the proportion of runways or shrubs getting burnt
ought to be no more than 1/3-1/4 to minimize its negative effect to the land
and forest fire risk.
- The efficiency of coordinating related forces in fire protection in Hanoi
is affected by some key factors such as regulations of rights and duties in
forest fire prevention and fighting, the attention of local authorities, the
awareness and knowledge of forest control managers and legal documents