Gaps in compliance with fire prevention and fighting regulations

Although many solutions have been proposed by various levels and sectors in recent times, fires causing great consequences and damage still occur and are at constant risk of occurring.

The scene of the fire at house number 1, lane 43/98/31, Trung Kinh street (Cau Giay district, Hanoi) on May 24. (Source: VNA)

At 5:30 a.m. on May 30, a fire broke out at a motel in Phu Luong Ward, Ha Dong District, Hanoi. Luckily, 9 people escaped the fire. Of these, 2 were rescued by local residents, 3 were rescued by police, and 4 escaped on their own.

But a few days ago, on the morning of May 24, there was no similar miracle when the fire at house number 1, lane 43/98/31, Trung Kinh street (Cau Giay district, Hanoi) tragically killed 14 people.

Looking back at the reality of the past, there have been many fires and risks of fires in rental housing areas and mini apartments in large cities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, leaving extremely serious consequences with huge losses in human lives and property.

Although in recent times, all levels and sectors have proposed many solutions and extended the "string" of experience, fires causing great damage still occur, and there is a constant risk of them occurring, showing the challenge of the effectiveness of fire prevention and fighting solutions as well as the helplessness before the attacks of "Mrs. Fire".

At the National Assembly forum, delegate Ta Thi Yen (Dien Bien province delegation) pointed out that the recent incidents of boarding house fires have shown loopholes in compliance with regulations on fire prevention and fighting and related state management. Our country is increasingly populated, urban areas are cramped, many people do not have houses, many people from rural areas come to urban areas to earn a living and study and have to live in boarding houses that lack amenities, fire prevention and fighting plans, escape, rescue and relief.

Delegate Ta Thi Yen raised the issue here: What is the responsibility of authorities at all levels in urban management, construction management, fire prevention and fighting, and lodging business to protect people's lives so that heartbreaking incidents like the recent ones never happen again?!.

Delegate Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap province delegation) said that the first responsibility for many serious fires is the investor. However, the responsibility of local authorities and fire prevention and fighting units is also very large. Especially in the work of inspecting, evaluating fire prevention and fighting and issuing warnings so that people can grasp the situation and prevent fires and explosions. This is an issue that needs to be reviewed and researched to overcome.

In the long term, many opinions say that solutions need to be synchronous in population and infrastructure management, including investment in building social housing so that people and low-income workers can access housing. However, in the immediate future, it is necessary to step up propaganda, instruct people on measures and raise vigilance, fire prevention and fighting. Along with that, local authorities, specialized fire prevention and fighting forces... should strengthen close monitoring of the grassroots; focus on inspection, construction management, fire prevention and fighting, and lodging business; strictly handle violations of regulations on this work.

On the other hand, to prevent and minimize the risk and damage caused by fire, it is necessary to pay attention to installing early fire warning equipment. This is very necessary, helping people to detect early and promptly handle and extinguish fires as soon as they arise or at least have enough time to find an escape route. At the same time, do not store or contain substances with high risk of fire and explosion in the house or common living area; Arrange a second escape route for the house. In particular, it is necessary to eliminate the risk of incidents from electrical systems and equipment because this is one of the main causes of fires and explosions in recent times. Prepare fire prevention and fighting equipment and a plan to handle and escape when a fire occurs in the house to promptly escape in an emergency situation.

The risk of fire and explosion is always present. Therefore, fire prevention and fighting work needs to be more practical, raising awareness and responsibility of all levels, sectors and people, so that no one has to pay with their own lives!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/lo-hong-trong-viec-tuan-thu-cac-quy-dinh-ve-phong-chay-chua-chay-273512.html