Firefighting and rescue drill at the apartment complex.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of May 27th, Fire Prevention and Control Police Station No. 1 coordinated with the Trang An apartment complex in Vinh City to organize a fire fighting and rescue drill.

A simulated fire broke out on the first floor and spread to several rooms on the second floor. The flames spread rapidly and thick smoke caused panic among 83 households with 250 residents living on the 10 floors of building TA2 in the Trang An apartment complex. The on-site fire fighting force deployed a firefighting team according to the "four on-the-spot" principle.

Using a ladder truck for a rescue drill on the upper floors of an apartment building. Photo: Hong Quang.

Upon receiving the report, Fire Department Station No. 1 dispatched 40 officers and soldiers, along with 5 specialized fire trucks, to the scene. They quickly deployed a team with 2 A-type nozzles, 4 B-type nozzles, and 2 support nozzles to extinguish the fire.

However, due to the panic among residents and the high risk of smoke inhalation, the Fire and Rescue Police Force had to use a ladder truck to dismantle the makeshift railings that residents had illegally installed on the third floor of the apartment building and deploy rescue teams from above.

It took 30 minutes for the fire to be brought under control and extinguished.

Using the on-site firefighting plan (option 4) at the high-rise apartment complex. Photo: Hong Quang.

The drill aimed to improve firefighting and rescue skills for local fire prevention forces. It also aimed to draw lessons learned regarding shortcomings in the emergency exits and escape routes of high-rise apartment buildings in Vinh City.

In particular, the unauthorized welding of additional "tiger cages" to seal gaps in the exterior balconies of apartments is the biggest obstacle to rescue efforts during fires in high-rise buildings.

Hong Quang