What lessons can we learn from the "fire lady" that visited Vinh market?

(Baonghean) -The fire at Vinh market (Nghe An) on the night of June 20th caused an estimated loss of over 10 billion VND. This is the fourth fire since 2006, hundreds of billions of VND worth of goods were burned, leaving many people suddenly penniless. So what has the Vinh market management learned from the fires that have occurred?

Returning to the Vinh market fire on the evening of June 20, 2011, being present at the scene and participating in the fire fighting, we witnessed the difficulties of the fire fighting force during the fire fighting process. In fact, there were many shortcomings in the design, construction, and arrangement of rows of kiosks in the market, leading to many limitations in fire fighting at this largest wholesale market in the North Central region, although this market has just been upgraded, built and put into use not long ago.

According to our observations and those of the authorities, the shortcomings are due to unscientific design and arrangement, not in accordance with fire prevention and fighting standards of a wholesale market.

- The main entrance to the market area: Designed too small, the width is not suitable for current fire trucks, the height is also limited due to the expansion and roof installation, so the fire trucks cannot approach the fire quickly and conveniently. While implementing the fire fighting plan, the fire fighting force considered the option of using specialized vehicles to remove these obstacles.

The entrance to the market is too narrow for the fire truck to enter.

- Side aisles in the market hall: Maybe because Vinh Market Management Board wants to increase the usable area, arrange more kiosks, so the aisles between the kiosks inside the market hall are very narrow, not airy enough, ensuring fire fighting when a fire occurs.

- The kiosks are not designed and installed properly: The kiosks in the communal house are installed and surrounded by very sturdy iron rolling doors. In an effort to put out the fire, the fire department used pliers, hammers and specialized axes to break them down, but it was very difficult to break through these iron rolling doors. The doors are closed and the goods are flammable, so these kiosks become "closed furnaces" that feed the fire inside. Despite their best efforts, the fire hoses cannot spray water directly into the fire in the kiosks to put out the fire. Meanwhile, the ceiling above is made of plastic, so the fire spreads between the kiosks very quickly. Obviously, these types of assembly designs are contrary to fire prevention regulations.

If a fire occurs, how to put it out?

- Fire water tanks: Although this project was newly designed and built, the arrangement and construction of fire water tanks still have many issues to discuss. When the fire fighting was entering the most intense stage, the water ran out, and the fire fighting was interrupted because the water trucks had to go elsewhere to pump water. Most notably, one of the southern fire water tanks, right next to the fire area, for unknown reasons, the Vinh market management board arranged for some businesses to set up kiosks above the tank, causing the fire fighting force to have a lot of difficulty pumping water from this tank.

- Firefighting force of the Market Management Board and awareness of traders: Normally, for a large commodity hub like Vinh market, the Market Management Board needs to build a security team that also performs on-site firefighting duties, increase drills, and periodically practice fire prevention plans for each specific situation. But in the fire on the night of June 20, we found that the security and firefighting force of Vinh market was very confused in handling operations, and did not coordinate well with the fire police force. And when the fire broke out, the traders doing business in the market, with the desire to save their goods, unintentionally created difficulties for the firefighting force, for example, moving goods, throwing them all over the aisles, becoming obstacles. In particular, some people even fought with firefighters for water hoses to spray water to save their kiosks... from burning.

The kiosk is made on a water tank.

- Fire prevention equipment: In the area where the fire occurred, there were many flammable stalls such as: fabrics, mats, traditional medicine, fishing gear, etc., but they were not equipped with automatic fire alarm systems such as smoke detectors, temperature detectors, etc. Not to mention the market's fire pump, which according to a fire police officer: did not operate up to fire prevention standards.

Hearing the helpless cries of the traders when witnessing their goods burned, and the dirty, hopeless faces searching after the fire, everyone sympathizes and grieves. All pain will eventually be overcome! The important thing is what will those responsible learn from these "fire" visits? We only hope that the Vinh Market Management Board, as well as other markets, will learn from their experiences and overcome shortcomings, strictly comply with fire prevention and fighting laws, and minimize the damage that we can prevent and minimize.

The Son