Warning of increased fire and explosion incidents at the end of the year

Fires and explosions increase at the end of the year

In the last months of the year, there have been many fires in the province causing significant damage. A typical example is the fire on November 25th.fire and explosionat the warehouse of Huy Hung General Trading Company Limited, No. 132 Ngo Thi Nham Street, Trung Do Ward, Vinh City. When the fire was high, it was discovered by nearby residents and reported to the Fire Police Force. The fire site is a warehouse storing goods such as bricks, plastics, paints, etc., built on an old brick wall that is at high risk of collapsing, with a deformed and warped corrugated iron roof frame above.

Inwarehousemany solvents and paints, plastics, flammable substances with a fast spreading speed, the fire broke out fiercely, emitting a lot of smoke and toxic gas. Moreover, during the burning process, it can explode, causing danger to the fire fighting force. After about 30 minutes of approaching, the Fire Police and Rescue force both fought the fire and urgently prevented the fire from spreading, promptly preventing the fire from spreading to the warehouses containing large quantities of bricks and plastics next door, then the fire was controlled.

Firefighters at warehouse No. 132, Ngo Thi Nham Street. Photo: Chu Minh

Not long ago, around 7:30 a.m. on November 18, on the 7th floor of the hotelVinh PlazaA fire broke out on Mai Hac De Street, Le Loi Ward. Firefighters were mobilized to promptly extinguish the fire that was about to spread to other rooms. Previously, on the night of October 9, 2020, at Lach Quen Port, Quynh Thuan Commune, Quynh Luu District, 4 fishing boats were also burned down...

According to statistics from the Provincial Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department, at the end of the year, many fires and explosions often occur in businesses and residential homes in the province. In 2020, up to November, the whole province had 69 fires and explosions, of which 59 were in businesses and residential homes, causing nearly 8 billion VND in damage. In November 2020 alone, there were 9 fires, causing more than 300 million VND in damage, an increase of 6 cases compared to October.

Looking for the cause?

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hanh - Deputy Head of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of the Provincial Police said that there are many causes of fires and explosions, especially in the last months of the year. The objective cause is the economic development situation, the rapid urbanization speed, so there are more and more high-rise buildings, commercial centers, industrial parks coming into operation... leading to an increased risk of fire and explosion. Especially during the pre-Tet period, especially the time before the Lunar New Year, businesses, markets, and services all increase dramatically in gathering goods, the number of people flocking to business locations to shop also increases. As a result, the demand for electricity, gas, and sources of ignition also increases sharply such as heaters, dryers, water heaters... causing the risk of fire and explosion at this time to increase many times.

Meanwhile, the provision of fire prevention and fighting equipment at production and business establishments is still limited, and many places are even left unattended, leading to an increase in fires, caused by electrical short circuits, negligence in cooking, burning materials... In addition, at the end of the year, the weather is complicated, often causing lightning strikes on warehouses, electric poles and places with lightning protection systems that are not regularly maintained, serviced and inspected. Storms are also a factor that distracts the fire prevention awareness of many individuals and units when they have to focus on responding to the weather... "These reasons, along with the subjective mentality of a part of the people, of some agencies and units, also cause fires and explosions to increase at the end of the year" - Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hanh said.

Fires often increase at the end of the year. Photo: HT

Avoid "closing the barn door after the horse is gone"

To limit fires and explosions, the leader of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department noted that businesses need to pay special attention to fire prevention and control.fire and explosion; arrange and store goods neatly and scientifically, away from electrical sources and heat sources that can easily cause fires, especially electrical wires should not be in contact with or placed near trees, metal materials and water leaks... Limit running power lines through warehouses and places where goods are gathered. Regularly measure lightning resistance and maintain lightning protection systems to avoid lightning strikes that cause fires, explosions, and deaths.

In 2020, the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department advised the Provincial Police leaders to organize 19 topics on fire prevention and fighting inspection at historical, cultural and religious sites; at markets, shopping centers, petrol and liquefied gas trading establishments; at apartment buildings, high-rise buildings... With 1,339 establishments inspected, thereby establishing 256 administrative violation records, imposing fines of more than 1 billion VND to the state budget.

The Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department also requested that agencies, units and business establishments regularly strengthen their on-site fire prevention and rescue forces and participate in full training as prescribed by law. The Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department will regularly conduct inspections and remind establishments to strictly comply with the provisions of the law on fire prevention and rescue.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hanh (third from right) and the delegation of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department inspected fire safety work at the facility. Photo: Chu Minh

Affirming that fire prevention work needs attentionPrevention is better than cure, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hanh suggested that people as well as businesses, agencies and units need to actively equip themselves with knowledge and understanding of fire prevention and fighting and raise their awareness of this work. Every family, agency and unit needs to strengthen self-inspection and self-prevention to promptly detect problems and risks leading to fire and explosion; Fully equip fire prevention and fighting means and equipment and regularly maintain and service these devices. "Fire prevention and fighting work needs to be carried out in the spirit of taking lessons from others as experience for oneself, not letting damage happen before learning from experience" - Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hanh emphasized.

Hoai Thu