Hengyang issued its third forest chief order of 2026 on November 3, requiring tighter fire prevention and emergency response measures to protect lives, property and forest resources. The order was jointly signed by Zhu Jian, secretary of the CPC Hengyang Municipal Committee, and Mayor Liu Zhongjie, both serving as municipal forest chiefs.

Under the forest chief system, which assigns officials responsibility for forest protection, the order sets out duties from county leaders to village officials and forest rangers. Forestry, emergency management and public security departments must coordinate their work. During periods of high fire risk, rangers must patrol for at least six hours and cover at least 12 kilometers daily.

County governments are required to issue fire bans promptly when a yellow or higher forest fire warning is issued, or when hot, dry or windy conditions posing a high fire risk are forecast. Controls will target unauthorized outdoor burning, including fires used in farming and offerings at graves. Temporary checkpoints at major forest entrances will strengthen inspections and prevent ignition sources from entering.

Priority measures include clearing combustible vegetation near farmland, roads, burial sites and power lines, alongside maintaining emergency access roads, firebreaks and firefighting water storage facilities. Public education will use village meetings, household visits, village loudspeaker systems and digital media.

The order also requires round-the-clock duty arrangements, timely warnings and stronger local response teams. Personnel and equipment will be stationed in priority areas during high-risk periods to ensure fires are detected early, tackled while small and fully extinguished, with firefighter safety maintained.

Anyone discovering a forest fire should call 119 immediately.

Translator: Jing