How to make home a place to live, a place to return to...

From the fire at Khuong Ha apartment building (Hanoi), it is necessary to further strengthen the management of mini apartments, focus on fire prevention and fighting as well as raise awareness and skills of each citizen, especially in big cities, in fire prevention and fighting.

The apartment fire in Khuong Ha is a warning bell about fire prevention and fighting. (Source: TP)

The fire at the mini-apartment building in Khuong Ha (Hanoi) on the night of September 12th has partly exposed many loopholes in the management of this type of housing. At the same time, it has also raised many issues for society. That is to further strengthen the management of mini-apartments, focus on fire prevention and fighting (PCCC) as well as raise awareness and skills of each citizen, especially in large cities in fire prevention and fighting.

Over the past 10 years, the type of housing with many self-contained apartments, with an area of 25 to 45m2/apartment, has been chosen by many people to rent or buy due to its reasonable price, especially students from other provinces and low-income workers. Due to the high price of urban land and the selling price of commercial apartments, the lack of social housing, many low-income people have difficulty accessing commercial housing, leading to an increasing demand for renting and buying mini apartments, attracting many investors to participate.

Currently, the country has about 5,000 apartment buildings, mainly concentrated in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. An alarming figure from the 2020 national inspection by the Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue Police Department shows that more than 1,200 apartment buildings nationwide do not ensure fire safety, which is nearly 1/3 of the total number of apartment buildings nationwide that do not ensure fire safety. There are no exact statistics on the number of mini apartments, but many serious fires have occurred in these types of apartments. High-rise boarding houses and multi-apartment houses (in the form of mini apartments) must apply fire safety regulations according to Decree 136. But in reality, most of these buildings have violations of fire safety.

There is no lesson more painful than paying with human life. This incident makes us realize that there are still many legal loopholes, and that many apartments and townhouses do not ensure fire prevention. It can be said that, up to now, the development of mini apartments is beyond control. There are no official statistics on this type of housing, which is a big challenge in making reasonable management policies.

Currently, the Ministry of Public Security, Hanoi and localities have requested a general review of all fire prevention issues in mini apartments to detect loopholes. From there, to find solutions and "cover" those loopholes. According to many experts, this incident continues to be a huge warning bell about fire prevention. We have talked a lot about fire prevention, but the most important thing is still practice and continuous inspection. In particular, the first responsibility lies with the mini apartment owners themselves when they must fully install equipment, requirements, and ensure fire prevention, and at the same time, there must be someone to supervise and comply with regulations.

Moreover, the local government and police must also properly perform their responsibilities in monitoring and regularly inspecting this work, especially in buildings with a large population in the area, not only in mini apartments but also in boarding houses, tube houses... Along with that, each citizen must raise their awareness and responsibility in fire prevention. Only when everyone is aware, does the right thing, fully and seriously can we hope to minimize similar incidents from happening.

In reality, there are still many investors who are subjective and lax in implementing the fire protection system. Fire does not arise naturally. Sometimes, it is the lack of knowledge and subjectivity of the people that is the cause of the fire.

Many questions have been raised, especially the level of safety in apartment buildings nationwide has been truly guaranteed? Fire prevention should be viewed as disease prevention. Fire prevention must be our top concern, because even if the disease is cured, it is difficult to avoid injuries and damages.

“Far away water cannot put out a nearby fire”, there must be specific measures and drastic actions, not just when an incident occurs, it will be publicized and then everything will be back to normal. After the recent heartbreaking incident, there were many opinions asking why people still live in dangerous apartments and townhouses. However, because of money and low income, many people accept to live in an unsafe place.

Occasionally, the fire police conduct drills for residents in collectives, apartments, and schools. I once attended a drill for residents in an apartment building. However, through observation, I realized that not everyone was interested in this issue, quite indifferent, talking to themselves or looking at their phones while watching the drill. And only when an incident happened, they worriedly went looking for equipment to protect themselves.

The question is, what will you do when there is a fire? How can each person and each family seriously recognize the importance of self-protection skills as well as escape skills in case of an accident?

In fact, through many incidents, thanks to skills such as escape ropes, escape ladders, hammers, gas masks, etc., many people have been saved. And in large cities, knowing how to protect yourself from dangers such as fire and explosion is necessary for everyone to equip themselves to save themselves. How to make fire prevention drills more concerned. At the same time, it is necessary to raise awareness as well as educate people on skills when dealing with all fire and explosion dangers. Children should also be taught fire prevention skills continuously and regularly.

Someone said, no place is 100% safe, so each individual's awareness is important in protecting themselves, their family and the community. How can each child know what to do and what to do when a fire occurs, or when they are alone? How can everyone be highly vigilant, have escape skills when encountering incidents and risks? How can home be a place to live, a place to return to, so that everyone feels secure when in their own home...

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