Last year, Chongqing experienced 8 forest fires, the lowest level in nearly a decade

Chongqing, February 22 (Liu Zhengning) - According to the Chongqing Forestry Bureau today, there were a total of 8 forest fires in Chongqing in 2015, the lowest level in nearly a decade. Compared with the average of the same period in the past decade, the number of forest fires in Chongqing decreased by 87% last year, the burned area decreased by 97%, and the affected forest area decreased by 97%.

Last year, at important time points and critical periods for fire prevention, the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee and Government Inspection Office arranged personnel to conduct special inspections. The Chongqing Municipal Party Committee Assessment Office also regards forest resource protection work as an important indicator for the actual assessment of social development by district and county party committees and governments, with an annual assessment score accounting for more than 20%.

Taking responsibility implementation as an important lever, Chongqing strictly implements the forest fire prevention administrative head responsibility system and establishes a sound accountability system for forest fire prevention work. At present, forest fire prevention responsibility agreements have been signed at all levels in Chongqing, from the city to districts and counties, townships, villages and communities, forest rangers, and forest owners.

On the basis of increasing forest fire prevention publicity, Chongqing has strengthened fire risk management through supervision and other means. In 2015, Chongqing conducted three large-scale inspections of forest fire hazards, registered and recorded the identified hazards, and completed the rectification within a specified period of time. The number of aviation protection helicopters has also increased to four, responsible for forest aviation firefighting work throughout the city.

At the same time, Chongqing also adheres to a 24-hour on duty and leadership on duty system for forest fire prevention work. We strictly implement the centralized reporting, daily reporting, and "zero reporting" system to standardize the forest fire prevention duty scheduling work, avoid concealment, omission, and multiple reporting, and ensure the smooth flow of forest fire prevention information.

It is reported that in order to further prevent forest fires, Chongqing will conduct at least one forest fire emergency drill during the high temperature and drought periods in spring and summer this year. At the same time, we will carry out activities such as introducing forest fire prevention knowledge into classrooms, households, and communities. During the Qingming Festival, May Day, and high temperature periods, intensive forest fire prevention public service advertisements will be carried out to effectively enhance the awareness of forest fire prevention among the people of the city.