Prime Minister's directive on strengthening fire prevention and control work.

The Prime Minister has just issued a directive requesting ministries, agencies, and localities to strengthen fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue efforts.

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Over the past period, under the decisive leadership and direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, and with the involvement of agencies, organizations, and individuals, fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue work has achieved positive results; the effectiveness and efficiency of state management and inspection of compliance with fire prevention and firefighting laws have been strengthened; the nationwide movement to participate in fire prevention and firefighting has been promoted and developed extensively; and the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police force has been gradually improved in terms of organization, structure, and investment in facilities, equipment, and vehicles. As a result, fire prevention and safety have been enhanced, fire and explosion incidents have been contained, making a significant contribution to ensuring national security, maintaining social order and safety, and effectively serving the socio-economic development of the country.

However, despite the achievements, fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue efforts still face some limitations. Many large fires have occurred, causing serious damage to people and property, affecting security, order, production and business activities, the investment environment, and the lives of the people. The main reasons are that some localities, agencies, organizations, businesses, and individuals have not fully understood the meaning and importance of fire prevention and firefighting; fire prevention and firefighting education and awareness campaigns have not been conducted regularly; and inspections and enforcement of fire prevention and firefighting laws have not been rigorous, thorough, or decisive enough in requiring organizations, businesses, and individuals to strictly comply with legal regulations. Furthermore, shortcomings and deficiencies in fire prevention and firefighting have not been promptly addressed.

To proactively prevent and minimize fires and explosions, especially large-scale fires and explosions that cause serious damage to the lives and property of the State and the people, the Prime Minister requests that ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities direct the effective implementation of the following urgent measures:

1.Ministry of Information and CommunicationsDirecting mass media agencies to increase the airtime for reporting, disseminating, and educating the public on fire prevention and fighting laws, escape and rescue measures, and remedial measures for fire safety violations, so that organizations, businesses, and the public are aware and voluntarily comply. Publicly criticizing irresponsible behavior and serious fire safety violations by relevant establishments and individuals through mass media to educate and prevent future incidents.

2.Ministry of Public SecurityThe Ministry of Finance shall preside over and coordinate with other Ministries, sectors, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to strengthen the direction of investigation and handling of violations of fire prevention and fighting laws. For establishments with serious violations that compromise fire safety, operations must be resolutely suspended or shut down; fires and explosions causing serious damage to people and property due to negligence, and other violations with criminal implications, must be investigated and strictly prosecuted in accordance with the law.

3.Establish inter-agency teamsA comprehensive inspection of fire prevention and fighting work at all units and facilities will be conducted by leaders of ministries, sectors, and People's Committees at all levels. The focus will be on key facilities with high fire and explosion risks, such as markets, shopping centers, large production facilities with high fire and explosion risks, and businesses operating under conditions related to security and order. The inspection process should focus on identifying serious loopholes, shortcomings, and violations in fire prevention and fighting, and their causes; simultaneously, clarifying the responsibility of the heads of agencies, organizations, and facilities for allowing violations to occur, and resolutely requiring facilities to immediately rectify existing deficiencies in fire prevention and fighting. For violations and shortcomings that the facility cannot rectify on its own, the Ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees will focus on directing the complete resolution of these issues, then conduct follow-up inspections and bring the fire prevention and fighting activities of agencies, organizations, businesses, and facilities into a regular and systematic routine.

The comprehensive inspection period runs from now until August 30, 2014. Upon completion of the inspection, ministries, sectors, and localities must report the results to the Prime Minister (through the Ministry of Public Security) before September 15, 2014.

4.Ministries, branches, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities.Directing agencies, organizations, units, and establishments under their management to strengthen fire prevention and control work. When fires or explosions occur, they must promptly mobilize forces and resources, implement comprehensive measures, and actively coordinate closely with the Fire and Rescue Police force to minimize damage to people and property; quickly address the consequences, stabilize the situation, guide public opinion, and prevent hostile forces and malicious elements from exploiting the situation to undermine the government. Heads of ministries and agencies, and Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible to the Prime Minister for any major fires or explosions causing serious damage to people and property.

5.Ministries, branches, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities.Strengthening resources to effectively implement the Prime Minister's Decisions No. 1110/QD-TTg dated August 17, 2012, approving the overall planning scheme for the fire prevention and fighting force's infrastructure system until 2020 and with a vision to 2030, and Decision No. 44/QD-TTg dated October 15, 2012, regulating rescue and relief work of the fire prevention and fighting force.

6.Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and InvestmentIn close coordination with the Ministry of Public Security, prioritize the allocation of funds to strengthen investment in equipment for the Fire and Rescue Police force. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-governed cities should focus on addressing urban firefighting water sources; planning the development of the Fire and Rescue Police team system; allocating land and budget for the construction of Fire and Rescue Police units in key economic zones and regions; and promoting social mobilization to provide financial support, equipment, and vehicles to the Fire and Rescue Police force to ensure they are fully capable of fulfilling firefighting, rescue, and relief tasks in their localities, especially in key areas and facilities prone to fires and explosions.

The Ministry of Public Security, in coordination with the Government Office and relevant agencies, will inspect and supervise the strict implementation of this directive, and report the results to the Prime Minister.

According to chinhphu.vn