You are listening to the program “1001 green things” of Phuc Khang Corporation – the pioneer of green building development in Vietnam. This time, I would like to tell you a story of “MY SON IS A FIREFIGHTER”.

Some lines in a diary to our beloved son,

Last night, we hardly slept a wink. And currently, your mom was taking a short siesta while I was writing some lines in a diary to confide with you, son. Perhaps, you haven’t read these lines for ages. I was writing these to express our worrying thoughts with you; yet, we wouldn’t want you heartbroken.

I felt both proud and worried on the day when you were admitted to the faculty of firefighting. I was proud because you were now a grown man, pursuing your passion and trying to be a helpful person. But son, the prouder I felt, the more worried I got. When you were granted a uniform of a firefighter, you spoke of your joy to us on the phone. We were completely overwhelmed by hearing your excitement. But hanging up, we felt a deep pang of sorrow to ourselves. You might start to fulfill a firefighter’s duty which you were dreaming and pursuing.

You were on duty today. A forest fire came out of no certain cause but initially, it might be due to some campers’ carelessness. When fires were breaking out everywhere, people ran for their lives in opposite direction with your team and you who had special suits on without the slightest hesitation, with the youth’s great enthusiasm, with great courage and determination, with great endurance in the face of pain, with knowledge and skills. You were doing your duty.

The fire was continuously updated on TV with the sounds of fire trucks, the scream of putting the fire out, the evacuation, the roars of animals which were running wild. We paid all of our intention to look for you on the screen. But no … you might be very busy now. We were worried about the imagination that fire was ahead of you and black smokes were around you.

Your feet were on the burned and dried grass. What you heard was the scream of panic, the roars of running-wild animals. Your forehead was sweaty, you were soaked, dirty and exhausted. But I knew that it was your job, your responsibility and also your duty on your shoulders. Such heavy responsibility became heavier owing to some ignorant people.

Whether forest fires were natural or artificial disasters causes extensive damage to life, health, environment, resources … which are in the care of the whole world. In the meantime, parents whose sons are participating in extinguishing forest fires are witnessing their sons’ sweat, even tears, blood and lives.

You used to say that firefighters are to save what’s left. You are proud of your job and we are proud of you. The more pride and love I have, the angrier I get. I am angry at the lack of conscience, the lack of knowledge, the lack of carefulness which cause great damage and loss. Now look: the fire completely destroyed the forest canopy – “a green lung” granted to humans by nature, the flood barrier, the home for all wild animals. They had been sleeping in peace and quietness before disasters struck, making them run wild for their lives. The green lung became damaged and the home got destroyed. And how long will the areas be afforested? How long will birds return to the mysterious and generous Mother Nature? And how long will our dear son call in safe to us?

Whatever happens, just keep believing and stay strong, our dear son! We have been waiting for you to fulfill your duty so that you can reunite with us in our own family. Do your best, our little hero.

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Ladies and gentlemen,

What you have just listened to is the diary of a father whose son is on duty of a firefighter. The story was told in a different view: the view of a parent whose son is participating in extinguishing the forest fire. The human carelessness is the primary cause to fatal forest fires which damage mankind and environment: green trees are burnt; animals lose their homes, run wild or be killed in the fire. Environment, water sources, patterns of vegetation and other species accidentally become victims of carelessness. Along with hundred thousands of negative impacts on the environment, forest fires cause severe damage to human life and properties, among which there are fire fighters – the front line of extinguishing the fire – working the hardest. Each and everyone of us should have a voice in protecting the green lung, the flood barrier, helping the flora and fauna exist and persist safely so that fire fighters can work less and less hard.

In the next broadcast, on the occasion of Vietnamese Families, you will listen to the story “THE MEMORY ZONE”. What is your own memory? Is that at noon when you are playing hide and seek in the garden, in the afternoon when you fly the kites up high in the sky or in the moment when you are swimming in the peaceful and fresh river … Ladies and gentlemen, stay all ears to our next broadcast in order to share beautiful memory zones with each other.