Hidden dangers from 'tiger cage' houses

Prevent theft and forget fire prevention

There have been many serious fires and explosions that originated from houses without escape routes. The most recent one occurred on May 13, 2023 at No. 24, Thanh Cong Street, Ha Dong District, Hanoi, killing 4 people (including 3 children). Notably, people living nearby were heartbroken and helpless as they listened to the gradually fading cries for help from the victims trapped inside the 3-storey house surrounded by an iron fence, also known as the "tiger cage".

This fire once again shows that people do not take safety exits in case of fire or explosion seriously, especially in tube houses and apartments that are sealed with "tiger cages" to prevent theft.

In Vinh city (Nghe An), it is not difficult to see such "tiger cages". In addition to tube houses covered with iron and stainless steel mesh, in apartment buildings such as CT1 building of Kim Thi apartment building, Bong Sen Tower building, CT-B building of Vinaconex 9 apartment building... especially the old Quang Trung apartment building, families have also expanded them into solid "tiger cages".

Many tube houses on Dang Thai Than Street (Vinh City) are covered with iron mesh. Photo: D.C.

According to the fire prevention force, sealing the open space of the house or reinforcing the "tiger cages" is effective in preventing and fighting theft, but is especially unsafe in fire prevention and fighting. In fact, tube-shaped houses almost only have the stairs inside the house as the only escape route. However, when there is a fire, this escape route is blocked by smoke and fire. Therefore, the best method for the fire prevention and fighting force is to cut down the iron cages to open a rescue route.

"Tiger cage" at the old Quang Trung apartment building. Photo: D.C.

Need to prepare an escape plan in case of fire

According to the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department, in 2022, the Provincial Police Department directed the Police of units and localities to organize a review of households using houses with "tiger cages" and houses with only 1 escape route in the area. Accordingly, 19,417/19,417 (100%) of individual households and houses combined with production and business were propagated and mobilized to remove or install emergency escape doors on iron nets and tiger cages on the loggias and balconies of apartments, ensuring a second escape route.

At the same time, mobilize 93,756 households to equip themselves with fire prevention and fighting equipment, of which 100% of households combining production and business have equipped themselves with initial fire fighting equipment after being inspected and instructed.

CT1 building of Kim Thi apartment building is located in Quan Bau ward, which is also the place with the most "tiger cages" among high-rise apartment buildings in the city. Photo: Tien Dong

In 2023, implementing the direction of the Provincial Police leaders, the Police of units and localities continued to focus on synchronously and drastically implementing fire prevention and fighting and rescue solutions, thereby achieving some positive results. The number of cases and damage caused by fires and explosions were controlled and reduced (from December 15, 2022 to May 15, 2023, there were 79 fires in the province, causing no human casualties, property damage of about 1,875 billion VND; compared to the same period in 2022, there were 20 fewer fires, 3 fewer deaths, and property damage decreased by 1.4 billion VND).

However, through assessment, the fire and explosion situation in the province is still potentially complicated, especially during the current peak of hot weather. If we do not focus on directing and implementing solutions, there will be many risks of fire and explosion causing serious damage.

Fire prevention and rescue drill at a luxury apartment building in Vinh City. Photo: Nguyen Hai

In particular, recently, the Provincial Police Department has issued a document directing many contents to the Police of units and localities on continuing to strengthen fire prevention, fire fighting and rescue work. It clearly states: The Police of districts, cities and towns direct the Police of communes, wards and towns to advise the People's Committees at the commune level to organize a comprehensive review of urban areas and residential areas with many family houses, houses combined with production and business, kiosks, production and business establishments built in the form of tube houses, adjacent to each other with only 1escape routeor have "tiger cages" (iron cages, iron nets) on balconies, loggias.

Based on the review, it is necessary to organize propaganda and mobilize households and businesses to immediately open a second escape route, dismantle "tiger cages", and ensure that 100% of family houses, houses combining production and business, kiosks, production and business establishments mixed in residential areas in the area must have at least 2 escape routes arranged in a dispersed manner, meeting escape requirements in case of fire or explosion.

People should not completely seal their houses but should proactively open the escape route on the balcony or rooftop area. In cases where it is mandatory to install a "tiger cage" to prevent theft, a door with a minimum size of 60x60cm must be constructed on these structures, the door opening direction must be in the direction of escape to the outside, a lock can be designed but the key must be placed in a convenient location near this area and family members must be informed to ensure timely escape in case of fire or explosion. It should be noted that this lock must be opened regularly, in case of an incident, due to losing composure, the key cannot be found or the lock is rusty and difficult to open.

In case of fire, people in the house can escape through these windows using ropes. If there are no ropes in the house, people can use curtains, nets, or clothes to climb down through the windows. In newly built houses, people should arrange escape routes of sufficient size. Adjacent houses should work together to create escape routes on balconies, from one house to another, so that help can be provided in case of fire.

Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Thanh - Head of Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department, Nghe An Provincial Police

It can be seen that in fire prevention work, prevention must always be the main focus. Therefore, along with equipping necessary fire fighting equipment and recommendations from authorities, people must not be subjective and need to be aware of equipping themselves with skills to ensure fire and explosion safety; create escape routes for the house, and not "block" their own escape routes in case of fire or explosion to prevent theft.