The Prime Minister directed key tasks and solutions to ensure the most effective fire prevention and fighting work.

Prime Minister chairs national online conference on fire prevention and fighting - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

On the morning of November 5, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a national online conference to evaluate the results of 10 months of implementing Directive No. 01/CT-TTg dated January 3, 2023 of the Prime Minister on strengthening fire prevention and fighting (PCCC) in the new situation.

The conference was held online between the Government Headquarters and the Headquarters of 63 People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities and more than 700 People's Committees of districts and towns nationwide.

Attending the conference were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang; Minister, Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son; leaders of ministries, branches, central agencies, state economic groups, business associations; Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, Chairmen of People's Committees at district and commune levels and representatives of relevant agencies.

At the Conference, delegates focused on evaluating the results achieved, especially the unfinished work, the shortcomings, limitations, inadequacies, and difficulties, clarifying the causes, drawing lessons to have fundamental, drastic, and feasible solutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of fire prevention and fighting and rescue, with the highest goal of ensuring the safety of life, health, and property for people and businesses.

Concluding the Conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the Ministry of Public Security for preparing well the content and program of the Conference; the report frankly and comprehensively assessed the situation, results, limitations, shortcomings, difficulties, pointed out the causes, on that basis proposed tasks and solutions for the coming time, the delegates discussed, analyzed, and contributed many opinions, through which we can see the whole picture of this work.

The conference connected online with 63 points of People's Committees of provinces and cities and more than 700 points of People's Committees of districts and towns nationwide - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister requested the agencies to absorb the opinions, complete and submit the Prime Minister's conclusions for promulgation after the Conference.

Emphasizing some more contents, the Prime Minister pointed out the guiding viewpoints in this work. Accordingly, the 13th National Party Congress determined: "Focusing on security and safety is one of the top factors in people's lives". It is necessary to continue to deeply understand the guiding viewpoints of the Party and State on fire prevention and fighting, including Directive 47-CT/TW of the Secretariat and Directive 01/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister.

Always clearly identify the position, role and importance of fire prevention and fighting and rescue work as an important task in the process of socio-economic development, in order to have correct, timely and appropriate policies and guidelines. It is necessary to innovate thinking, awareness, methods and ways of organizing and implementing fire prevention and fighting work. Fire prevention and fighting work must be under the leadership of the Party and the management of the State, focusing on mobilizing the combined strength of the entire political system and the participation of the entire population, identifying people and businesses as the target, the center, the subject, the driving force and the resource in fire prevention and fighting and rescue, the ultimate goal is the happiness and prosperity of the people.

Fire prevention and rescue work aims to ensure the highest level of safety for people and the whole society, minimizing consequences and damage caused by fires, explosions, incidents and accidents.

Mobilizing 3 million households to open second emergency escape route

Regarding the results achieved, the reports and opinions at the Conference assessed that in the past time, all levels, sectors, and localities, with the core being the Public Security force, have seriously grasped and resolutely implemented the directions of the Party, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Prime Minister on fire prevention and fighting, especially the directions of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, with some initial, positive results.

Specifically, actively researched and advised on the promulgation of a system of legal documents and directives, as a political and legal basis for fire prevention and fighting and rescue work. Proactively researched, analyzed, evaluated, and forecasted the situation, identified targets and high-risk subjects that need to focus on fire prevention and fighting safety management and inspection. Conducted a general review and inspection of 100% of apartment buildings, multi-apartment houses, rental facilities with high population density, and houses combined with production and business with fire and explosion risks.

Representative of the Ministry of Public Security reports at the Conference - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Strengthening propaganda, training and guidance on fire prevention and fighting with various and practical forms. There are many effective models and initiatives, building more than 40 thousand models of Inter-family Fire Prevention and Fighting Safety Teams; nearly 50 thousand models of Public Fire Fighting Points; mobilizing more than 11 million households to equip fire extinguishers, 3 million households to open second emergency exits...

Inspection and handling of violations of fire prevention and fighting and rescue have been carried out more drastically, without exception. Nearly 190,000 establishments have been inspected for fire safety; 67,000 shortcomings and deficiencies have been discovered and recommendations have been made to overcome them; and decisions have been made to sanction administrative violations in more than 8,500 cases.

The police force, in which the main force is the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police force, has played a core role in fire prevention and rescue (more than 60,000 officers and soldiers have been mobilized to organize rescue for more than 2,000 fires, explosions, incidents and accidents; dozens of officers and soldiers have been sacrificed or injured while on duty)...

In particular, it has limited damage caused by fires, explosions, incidents and accidents, directly saved nearly 900 people; protected assets worth thousands of billions of VND and saved assets worth nearly 270 billion VND in fires.

On behalf of the Government, the Prime Minister highly appreciated the efforts and results that ministries, branches, localities and functional forces have achieved in fire prevention and rescue work in recent times, contributing to creating a secure, safe and secure environment for people, peace of life and socio-economic development.

However, in addition to the achieved results, the Prime Minister emphasized that we need to seriously look at fire prevention and rescue work, as there are still many shortcomings, limitations, and weaknesses that need to be urgently and resolutely overcome.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang speaks at the Conference - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The leadership, direction and implementation of fire prevention and fighting and rescue work are sometimes ineffective. There is also a situation of lax management, allowing construction of works that do not comply with legal regulations and do not ensure fire prevention and fighting standards and regulations...

Inspection, examination and handling of violations of fire prevention and fighting and construction order are not strict; sanctions are not deterrent enough, leading to procrastination and prolonged failure to correct violations. The fire at the mini apartment building in Khuong Dinh, Hanoi has exposed many loopholes, shortcomings and violations in state management of fire prevention and fighting and construction order.

The effectiveness of disseminating and popularizing laws on fire prevention and fighting, rescue, and incident response skills, escape, etc. is still limited. There are not many practices and drills on fire prevention and fighting and rescue plans, and they are not practical and close to the real situation.

Some heads of establishments, householders, and residents have not yet realized the importance of fire prevention and fighting; have not proactively supplemented solutions to ensure fire safety, equip firefighting equipment, and necessary escape routes; are still subjective and negligent in using fire and heat sources; and lack escape skills when fires and explosions occur. Some ministries and sectors have been slow in implementing assigned tasks, have not ensured progress, and have not had specific results.

The Prime Minister pointed out the basic causes as follows: Party committees at all levels have sometimes not paid attention to and have loosened their leadership and direction in fire prevention and fighting work; state management by agencies is sometimes not strict and effective; the effectiveness of propaganda and mobilization work to raise people's awareness, responsibility and skills is still not high; the completion of institutions and laws is still limited and supervision, inspection and handling of violations are sometimes not strict; the effectiveness of close coordination to create combined strength is still not high.

The Prime Minister requested that Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and cities seriously learn from experience, rectify leadership and direction of fire prevention and fighting and rescue work, and improve the effectiveness of this work in the coming time.

The Prime Minister requested to focus on implementing prevention work well, this is the main task, must be carried out regularly and continuously - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Consider this a regular, ongoing task.

It is forecasted that in the coming time, the situation of fires, explosions, incidents and accidents will continue to develop complicatedly, especially in residential areas, multi-storey houses, many apartments; rental service businesses, houses for living combined with production and service business; markets, commercial centers, high-rise buildings, industrial parks, establishments with large concentrations of people; many degraded works and infrastructures do not meet the requirements of fire prevention and fighting standards but cannot be remedied immediately. Our country is a developing country, the economy is in the process of transformation, starting from a low point, a lot of work, high demands but resources and response capacity are limited compared to the requirements of development.

The Prime Minister requested that the heads of ministries, branches and localities must be truly concerned, responsible, focused on implementing the key tasks resolutely and effectively; continue to thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the directives of the Party, the National Assembly, the Government, the Prime Minister, especially the directives of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on strengthening fire prevention and fighting work. Strengthen the leadership of Party committees and the State management of all levels of government more closely, effectively and efficiently, considering this a regular and continuous task.

Further promote information, propaganda, mobilization and guidance to raise awareness, responsibility and skills of people and businesses in fire prevention and rescue to protect themselves and the community. Officials, civil servants and party members must be exemplary in implementing fire prevention and fighting regulations. Replicate advanced models and examples of fire prevention and fighting.

Mobilize the combined strength of the entire political system, mobilize resources, including social resources, for investment in infrastructure, fire prevention and fighting facilities, rescue and relief, to meet requirements when incidents occur.

Focus on perfecting policies, laws, standards, and technical regulations on fire prevention, rescue, and relief in line with socio-economic development. Strengthen synchronous and effective coordination between core forces and related entities; improve the enforcement capacity of forces and the responsibility of leaders.

Tighten discipline and order; improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of construction, fire prevention and fighting, and electricity; immediately overcome loopholes and shortcomings. Continue to regularly review, inspect, and handle violations; there are no forbidden areas or exceptions. Any problems that show signs of law violations must be transferred to inspection, examination, and investigation agencies for verification, clarification, and strict handling.

Focus on doing a good job of prevention, this is the main task, must be done regularly and continuously. Preparation work must be thorough and methodical. Firefighting, rescue and salvage activities must be professional and modern, firefighting and escape skills must be improved.

Immediately after this Conference, the Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and localities to deploy drastic and serious implementation to ensure the safety of people's lives and health - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Focus on improving the capacity of the fire prevention and fighting force, the core of which is the fire prevention and fighting police force; consolidate forces in residential areas and establishments. Build a close and effective coordination mechanism between the forces performing fire fighting and rescue tasks. Pay attention to investing and building facilities and logistics for the fire prevention and fighting police force and rescue forces. Promote research, application of science and technology, production of fire prevention and fighting and rescue vehicles and equipment.

Focus on removing difficulties and obstacles for people and businesses regarding fire prevention and fighting (Telegram No. 220/CD-TTg); must directly dialogue, grasp the situation to find solutions; must not cause trouble or difficulties. Do not legalize violations, but must have solutions to ensure the rights of people and businesses.

Continue to conduct a general review of apartment buildings, multi-apartment houses, rental facilities with high population density, houses combined with production and business with fire and explosion risks, in which it is necessary to classify and specifically evaluate each group of existing violations of construction order, fire prevention and fighting, and electricity to have appropriate solutions.

Urgently develop and complete many specific regulations

Assigning specific tasks to ministries, branches and localities, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Construction to urgently complete the standards for individual housing - general design requirements (before December 31, 2023); Decree replacing Decree 117/2007/ND-CP on production, supply and consumption of clean water, which specifically stipulates requirements for fire-fighting water supply in industrial parks, urban areas and densely populated areas (in the second quarter of 2024).

Strengthen management of construction planning, urban planning, and construction order; organize comprehensive inspections of construction management activities of multi-storey, multi-apartment individual houses, promptly detect and strictly handle violations, and consider and handle responsibilities for organizations and individuals who are lax in managing construction order.

To strengthen risk management, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is urgently completing the draft Law amending and supplementing the Electricity Law, which includes additional regulations on safe use of electricity after the meter to clarify the responsibilities of management agencies, organizations and individuals. Coordinate the review of business establishments and chemical storage facilities with high risk of fire and explosion in residential areas and crowded places and relocate them, ensuring safety conditions for fire prevention and rescue.

The Ministry of Education and Training urgently integrates knowledge and skills on fire prevention and fighting and rescue into the curriculum, extracurricular activities and experiences in educational institutions; promotes propaganda and training on knowledge and skills on fire prevention and fighting and rescue for students. Research and supplement specialized knowledge on fire prevention and fighting into the training programs of technical schools with specialized construction training majors.

The Ministry of Information and Communications continues to direct news agencies and newspapers to strengthen propaganda work widely on mass media to raise people's vigilance and respond promptly to fire and explosion incidents. Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, and Vietnam News Agency increase the time of propaganda and recommendations to people about awareness, knowledge, and skills in fire and explosion prevention and escape.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall synthesize and report to competent authorities for consideration and arrangement of public investment capital to ensure fire prevention and fighting and rescue work according to regulations; pay attention to balancing to implement the Fire Prevention and Fighting Infrastructure Planning for the period 2021 - 2030.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reviews, evaluates and proposes amendments to Decree 54/2019/ND-CP, including amendments to regulations on granting business licenses for karaoke and discotheque services, to be completed in 2023.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development develops and supplements forest fire prevention and control regulations and standards; coordinates with ministries, branches and localities to strengthen forest fire prevention and control work; applies technology in warning and early detection of forest fire risks.

The Ministry of Transport issued a Circular amending and supplementing the road transport sector, which incorporates instructions on fire and explosion prevention skills, handling and responding to incidents and accidents into driver training content.

The Ministry of Public Security urgently completes the dossier proposing the development of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue and related decrees; coordinates with ministries and branches to review and amend regulations on fire prevention and fighting, standards and technical regulations to ensure consistency in implementation. Directs the strict implementation of procedures and regulations on design approval and acceptance of fire prevention and fighting; manages and inspects fire prevention and fighting and rescue safety in the spirit of strictness, openness, transparency, anti-corruption, negativity, and harassment, ensuring substance, not formality.

The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall direct the completion of a general review and inspection of fire safety, assessment, classification, and provision of immediate and long-term solutions to ensure fire and explosion prevention and minimize damage and consequences caused by fire and explosion (to be completed in December 2023). Continue to resolutely implement state management of fire prevention and fighting and rescue to prevent, repel, and eventually end fires causing particularly serious consequences.

Localities coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to effectively implement the Fire Prevention and Fighting Infrastructure Planning for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050, ensuring consistency and synchronization with the 10-year Socio-Economic Development Strategy 2021 - 2030 and the Socio-Economic Development Plan of the locality.

Immediately after this Conference, the Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and localities to thoroughly grasp and implement the plan resolutely and seriously, ensuring the safety of people's lives and health, contributing to protecting national security, maintaining social order and safety, and developing the socio-economy.

Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/thu-tuong-chi-dao-cac-nhiem-vu-giai-phap-trong-tam-de-cong-tac-phong-chay-chua-chay-dat-hieu-qua-cao-nhat-365405.html