WATCH CLIP: Ministry of Public Security guides escape skills in case of fire in tube houses
"Tiger cage" blocks escape route
According to information from Hanoi City Police, at 7:44 a.m. on May 13, a fire broke out at house number 24 Thanh Cong Street, Quang Trung Ward, Ha Dong District. Upon receiving the report, the authorities dispatched 4 fire trucks and dozens of officers and soldiers to the scene to put out the fire.
About 30 minutes later, the fire was extinguished but the four people in the house had died. The victims included: Mrs. NTKX (born in 1956, mother of the householder), NMP (born in 2013), NMĐ. (born in 2015) and NQMH (born in 2019), all children of the householder.
According to the authorities, the fire started on the first floor. The house has a construction area of about 40 square meters, 3 floors high and 1 attic. The attic is airy and can be used to escape to the house next door and down. Outside the house from floors 1-3, it is surrounded by an iron fence, also known as a "tiger cage".
Some witnesses said that when they discovered someone trapped inside, the fire was so big on the first floor that they could not approach and rescue the victim.
A representative of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Hanoi City Police said that in reality, many families have sealed off the open spaces of their houses or reinforced "tiger cages" with the purpose of preventing theft or increasing the area of the house.
“This practice causes unsafe conditions in fire prevention and fighting. Because the materials used by families for reinforcement are usually made of iron, steel, or solid concrete, it hinders the police from accessing the scene when a fire breaks out to put out the fire and rescue the victims,” said a representative of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Hanoi City Police.
A representative of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Hanoi City Police added that tube-shaped houses have almost only one escape route, the stairs. When a fire breaks out, this route is blocked by smoke and fire, so the best method for the fire prevention and fighting force is to cut down the iron cages to open a rescue route.
“The time it took to cut the iron cages was quite long, leading to not being able to save people in time. The more solidly the iron cages are processed, the greater the risk of loss of life and property,” said a representative of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department.
Every family needs to prepare an escape plan in case of fire.
The Ministry of Public Security recommends that households ensure and maintain fire prevention and fighting safety conditions to eliminate and minimize the risk of fire and explosion.
Families need to equip themselves with on-site fire fighting equipment such as portable fire extinguishers, gas masks, fire fighting water, etc. and know how to use these equipment.
Be careful when using fire, heat sources, burning incense, burning votive paper, using heat-generating devices such as light bulbs, irons, electric stoves, heating devices, etc.
The Ministry of Public Security also recommends that households should not design or install "tiger cages", and if necessary, they should arrange escape hatches. Each family should have an escape plan and share it with family members. Families should limit leaving children alone at home, and not let children play on the balcony...
In case of fire, if you have to walk through fire and smoke, you must use wet towels to protect your respiratory system; do not take shelter under the bed, wardrobe, or in the bathroom; before opening the door, use the back of your hand to check the temperature...
Source
Comment (0)