Nghe An directed to strengthen fire prevention and fighting measures during the hot dry season.

Accordingly, on the basis of reviewing the resultsfire prevention and fighting in 2021, in which the most prominent is the construction and replication of 422 models to ensure fire prevention and fighting in the area, from eachresidential and businessThere was only one escape route, but now 100% have been renovated, ensuring there are at least two escape routes and additional initial equipment investment after inspection and guidance. Thanks to that, the number of fires and explosions in the type of housing combined with business booths has decreased by 10 cases compared to 2020.

Firefighters put out a fire at a Tea Room on Dinh Cong Trang Street in 2021. This is the most serious fire involving a house and rental business in Vinh City. Photo courtesy of PV Quang An

In addition to the above advantages, the Provincial People's Committee also assessed that fire prevention and fighting work in the area still has some weaknesses and limitations such as the number of deaths in fires and explosions is still high, people's awareness is still subjective and negligent, the role and responsibility of local authorities are not yet resolute... Since the beginning of June, facing the prolonged hot weather, due to the increased demand for electrical equipment, the risk of fire and explosion safety for housing, businesses and units has increased; the social situation has returned to normal.after the Covid-19 epidemicshould have more social activities.

Therefore, implementing Plan 273/KH-BCA dated June 1, 2022 of the Ministry of Public Security on strengthening fire prevention and fighting and rescue work for residential areas, types of houses combined with business, the Provincial People's Committee assigned provincial departments, branches, unions and district People's Committees, in which specifically the heads need to take drastic measures to ensure fire safety, taking the motto "prevention is the main thing", "prevention" is "construction", "treatment" is "fighting", so it is necessary to actively propagate and remind officers, employees and people to raise awareness of fire prevention, properly implement regulations.Fire Prevention and Fighting Lawand guidelines; take advantage of internet infrastructure and social networking environment to promote propaganda, reminders, and instructions on fire prevention, rescue, and escape...

Fire prevention and rescue drill at the 21-storey Trung Do Tower apartment building next to Le Nin Avenue, Vinh City. Photo by Nguyen Hai

Departments, branches and press agencies should strengthen specialized pages and topics to propagate fire prevention, especially Decision No. 23/2022 dated January 18, 2022 of the Provincial People's Committee on ensuring fire prevention and fighting safety for individual houses and businesses in the area; select inter-family models and residential groups with good fire prevention plans and equipment to serve as models and replicate before September every year.

The police force is in charge of advising and implementing solutions to ensure fire prevention and fighting, including strengthening inspections to ensure that 100% of individual residential houses combined with businesses must have at least 2 escape routes on balconies, loggias, elevator entrances, and rooftops; issuing fire prevention and escape instructions; equipping initial firefighting equipment and rudimentary demolition tools in case of fire; coordinating with the People's Committees of wards and communes to complete and establish on-site firefighting forces in combination with civil defense and strengthening guidance and training in fire prevention and fighting; advising on the development of allowance regimes for this force according to regulations of the Provincial People's Council.

Firefighters on site practice putting out a fire when it first starts as a small spark. Photo by Nguyen Hai

For facilities and housing areas with high risk of fire and explosion, it is necessary to have a plan to conduct drills for civil defense forces and mobilize police forces to participate in rescue; Commune-level People's Committees need to effectively utilize communication channels and social networks to propagate and disseminate fire prevention awareness to the people; direct district and commune-level police forces to synchronously deploy fire prevention and fighting measures according to Article 52, Decree 136/2020 of the Government; conduct inspections and guidance once a year for residential and business establishments; organize re-inspections for establishments that have violations after inspection.

Vinh City's interdisciplinary force during an inspection reminded family homes that combine business. Photo by Nguyen Hai

For the People's Committees at district and commune levels, proactively establish an interdisciplinary inspection team to conduct annual inspections of residential areas, households and facilities and establish management records for 100% of these subjects as prescribed in Appendix IV of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting. During times of high risk of fire and explosion, the interdisciplinary team proactively implements the motto of "going to every alley, knocking on every house and checking every subject" to mobilize and remind, if there is a risk of fire and explosion due to occupation or tiger cages, request to dismantle, create escape corridors and fire fighting; broadcast on the public address system once a day to warn of the risk of fire and explosion. Research and arrange funding for the People's Committees at commune level to carry out fire prevention and fighting work in the area...

In fire fighting, the most important thing is to determine the "golden time" which is within 5 minutes of the fire breaking out, the local force must be present to handle and extinguish the fire initially. If done well, the professional fire fighting force will be able to extinguish the fire more effectively and quickly.

(Representative of Vinh City Fire Prevention and Rescue Team shared)