Low and behold... fire, explosion!

Many tragic fires

Although there have not been any major fires that have resulted in many deaths, such as the fires that occurred in Cat Lai Ward, Thu Duc City (Ho Chi Minh City) in the early morning of March 30, or the fire that occurred in the early morning of April 4 at 311 Ton Duc Thang Street, Hang Bo Ward, Dong Da District (Hanoi). However, recent fires in Nghe An province have raised alarms about fire prevention and fighting, especially in residential areas and houses combined with production and business.

Still not over the shock after the fire at 12:21 on April 8, in the area behind the 2-story house of Mr. LTH's family (in Dong Phong hamlet, Xuan Hoa commune, Nam Dan district), said: At the time the fire broke out, his family was eating, no one in the house discovered it, only when the neighbors around shouted did everyone know.

The fire broke out at 12:21 p.m. on April 8, behind the 2-story house of Mr. LTH's family in Dong Phong hamlet, Xuan Hoa commune (Nam Dan). Photo courtesy of Chu Minh

The fire originated in an area used for cooking with a wood stove and storage, about 80 m wide.²containing many flammable substances, the fire quickly broke out and only after the forceFire protectionThe fire was brought under control and did not spread to surrounding houses. The initial cause was determined to be due to carelessness in cooking.

In addition to house fires, there have been many fires in houses that combine production and business in the area recently. For example, at around 10 p.m. on February 9, people discovered a fire that broke out strongly, engulfing the entire house selling plastic products and spreading to the hair salon next door at No. 72, Sao Nam Street, Nghi Thu Ward (Cua Lo Town).

The fire broke out at around 10 p.m. on February 9 at a house selling plastic products and spread to the hair salon next door at No. 72, Sao Nam Street, Nghi Thu Ward (Cua Lo Town). Photo courtesy of Van Lang

Upon receiving the news, the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department, Nghe An Provincial Police, directed Fire Prevention and Rescue Team No. 2 to quickly dispatch 2 fire trucks and 11 officers to the scene and deploy a firefighting team. After about 10 minutes from the time the firefighting force arrived at the scene, the fire was controlled and extinguished, promptly preventing the fire from spreading to the 2nd floor and surrounding houses. Fortunately, at the time of the fire, 2 people in the house were able to escape safely. Initial damage, including motorbikes and many properties were burned down.

Previously, there was a fire at 3:33 p.m. on April 4 at a Western medicine kiosk at Dien Xuan afternoon market (Dien Chau); a fire at 2:28 a.m. on April 7 at a photocopy shop at 87 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street (Vinh city)...

According to statistics from the Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting and Rescue Police Department (PCCC and CNCH), Provincial Police, from November 15, 2020 to April 15, 2021, there were 80 fires in the province, of which 25 were in houses, residential areas, and houses combined with production and business services.

Don't be subjective or negligent.

Through inspection and survey by the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department, Provincial Police, the number of households in residential areas that proactively install a complete fire prevention and fighting system is very rare. Most households are not equipped with fire extinguishers, so when an incident occurs, it is easy to lead to the risk of fire spreading, large fires, causing serious damage to people and property.

In residential areas, houses are often designed and built in the form of adjacent tubes, close together, without ensuring safe distance for fire prevention and fighting, without backup escape routes, and without solutions to prevent fire from spreading. The lack of escape routes in case of fire has caused many fires, although not large, to cause great loss of life.

In particular, it is more dangerous for houses that combine living with production and business, have a lot of furniture and goods, are close to power sources and heat sources, not to mention being piled up in front. If a fire occurs, it will not only block the escape route but also cause the fire to spread faster, and at the same time cause many difficulties for the authorities to access in time to put out the fire, rescue and relief.

Recently, a fire broke out on the 3rd floor of Truong Thinh apartment building (Vinh city) due to residents carelessly forgetting to turn off the stove.

According to the assessment of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Force, when a fire occurs in a residential area, the fire fighting work of the authorities faces many difficulties. The reason is that the current traffic system into residential areas is very complicated, most of which are small and long roads, and are obstructed by spontaneously built structures by residents, making it difficult for fire fighting vehicles to access. On the other hand, most residential areas, due to long-term planning or spontaneous formation, have not been installed with a fire hydrant system, and many places that have been installed are not well maintained, leading to damage.

In addition, on-site firefighting forces, especially in residential areas far from the city center, towns, and townships, have not been regularly trained; firefighting equipment is lacking; fire prevention and firefighting plans are limited, so they cannot respond promptly when fires and explosions occur. Nghe An is entering the hot season. The use of electricity and heat sources is therefore also greater, posing a high risk of fire and explosion.

Fire Prevention and Rescue Police of the Provincial Police organized fire prevention and rescue training for people. Photo: Fire Prevention and Rescue Police

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hanh - Deputy Head of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department, Nghe An Provincial Police: To strengthen measures to ensure fire safety to minimize the number of cases and damage caused by fires and explosions, at the online conference on fire prevention and suppression in the new situation held by the Ministry of Public Security on the morning of April 15, the leaders of the Ministry of Public Security also launched a peak period across the country in general and Nghe An in particular on propaganda and inspection of fire safety in residential areas, households, houses combined with production and business.

In order to ensure fire safety and rescue in residential areas, in family homes and to prepare forces, means and plans to organize timely and effective fire fighting, households need to pay attention, do not leave flammable objects and goods in the cooking area. Cars, motorbikes, vehicles and tools containing gasoline, flammable liquids in the house must be kept away from the stove and heat sources.

Automatic circuit breakers (Aptomat) must be installed for the general electrical system of the whole building, each floor, each branch, each electrical device that consumes large amounts of power. Before leaving the house and before going to bed, check the cooking area, the place of worship, and turn off unnecessary electrical equipment. Do not install iron cages or iron nets on the railings of high-rise buildings. If installed, there must be a door to open when necessary. Prepare ladders and rope ladders to escape in case of fire. In addition, each family should anticipate escape situations in case of fire, and be proficient in using the equipped fire fighting tools.

Based on the advice of the Provincial People's Committee to issue directive documents, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hanh recommends.

However, the most important thing is that each citizen needs to raise awareness of self-compliance with fire prevention regulations and skills to handle situations when fire and explosion incidents occur. Because in reality, if people still take fire prevention lightly, do not pay due attention to fire prevention work, the risk of fire incidents will always be latent.