To mobilize resources for fire prevention and fighting

That is the direction of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the national video conference evaluating the 10-month results of implementing Directive No. 01/CT-TTg dated January 3, 2023 of the Prime Minister on strengthening fire prevention fighting in the new situation, held online on the morning of November 5.

The Prime Minister also requested ministries, departments, branches, party committees, and local authorities to direct and organize the good implementation of some tasks and fundamental solutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of  fire prevention fighting and fire rescue (FPF&FR), with the highest goal of ensuring the safety of life, health, and property for people and businesses, preventing unfortunate events from occurring.

Provincial FPF&FR Police held a fire fighter competition to improve workers’ skills and awareness of this work, contributing to reducing fires as well as damage to people and property.

Strengthen inspection and handling

From December 15, 2022 to October 15, 2023, there were 2,927 fires and fire incidents nationwide, killing 134 people and injuring 101 people. Regarding property, it is estimated that the damage was more than VND229 billion and 207 hectares of forest. Also during the past 10 months, there were 10 explosions nationwide, killing 5 people and injuring 18 people. Compared to the same period in 2022, the number of fires and fire incidents decreased by 1,367 cases, an increase of 36 deaths, an increase of 22 injuries, and property damage decreased by more than VND337 billion. The number of explosions decreased by 3, deaths decreased by 3, and injuries increased by 3.

The causes of fires are mainly due to problems with electrical systems and equipment; due to careless use of fire sources or heat sources; due to violation of fire safety regulations; due to technical problems, natural phenomena, traffic accidents...

Speaking at the online conference, Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, said: “After the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 01/CT-TTg dated January 3, 2023 on strengthening fire prevention and fighting in the new situation, Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 1210/KH-UBND setting out the following measures: group of tasks, key solutions, organization of FPF&FR Steering Committee Conference to thoroughly grasp, deploy, and assign tasks to departments, branches, and localities to organize comprehensive implementation, with the spirit of "Being more determined, promoting the roles and responsibilities of all levels, branches, and localities in FPF&FR, consider this a regular political task closely linked to the professional tasks of each department, branch, and locality.

In the first 9 months of 2023, there were 63 fires in the province, including 3 large fires, 8 medium fires and 52 small fires that were promptly extinguished by the people and the on-site fire protection force, not letting the fire spread or become a big fire; the damage was insignificant. Compared to the same period in 2022, the number of fires decreased, with no fatal fires.

In checking and handling violations, provincial authorities inspected fire safety at 51,605 establishments, made 51,605 records, and instructed more than 145,000 fire safety solutions. Through inspection work, 322 cases were promptly discovered and decided to temporarily suspend; Suspended operations to 363 cases where establishments did not ensure fire safety conditions; decided to handle 3,164 administrative violations, with an amount of 28.85 billion VND submitting to the State budget...

Continue to promote the motto "4 on-the-spot"

In Binh Duong, although the specialized FPF&FR force is still weak, with efforts, fire prevention and fighting work in the new situation attained important results, promoting the combined strength of the political system, businesses and people.

As of early November 2023, in Binh Duong, 587 civil defense teams were established and consolidated with more than 4,368 members participating in fire prevention and fighting from the grassroots. 33 specialized firefighting teams were established with 762 members and equipped with 19 fire engines and 22 water tankers; Instructions given to building 8,378 grassroots fire protection teams with 107,963 members.

At the same time, up to now the whole province has set up 508 "Public fire fighting points" and 453 "Fire prevention and safety inter-family groups"; organized training on FPF&FR skills for 279,871 households; propagated and encouraged 282,159 households to equip themselves with fire extinguishers and rudimentary demolition tools. To mobilize households and houses to combine production and business to open a second escape route for 17,687 households; direct Commune People's Committees to instruct hamlets and residential groups to integrate FPF&FR topics into regular meetings, activities, and FPF&FR training for grassroots fire prevention and fighting forces to achieve 100% of prescribed targets.

Through the activities, awareness of fire prevention and fighting among heads of agencies, organizations, businesses and people has been significantly improved. Agencies, units, businesses and household owners proactively learn, research and review fire safety conditions within their scope of management for implementation. Proactively invest and equip firefighting and rescue equipment and facilities as well as register to receive knowledge and skill training on FPF&FR. 

According to Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, in recent times, leaders of Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Committee have paid close attention, directed and seriously effectively implemented policies and directions of the Party, National Assembly, Government, and Ministry of Public Security on FPF&FR. The province strictly directs, understands the situation, analyzes, evaluates and has specific measures and solutions to handle shortcomings and inadequacies in FPF&FR for key establishments and areas at risk of fire and explosion. Focus on reviewing, inspecting, and handling violating establishments that have not yet had their design approved, accepted for fire prevention and put into use. At the same time, resolutely handle investors and establishments that seriously violate regulations on fire prevention and fighting...

Take people as the subject and center in fire prevention work

Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that all levels, sectors and localities need to determine FPF&FR is one of the important tasks in the socio-economic development process, thereby innovating thinking, awareness, organizational methods, working methods, and approaches to this task; Set FPF&FR tasks under the leadership of the Party, the strict and effective management of the State, and the active participation of people and businesses. FPF&FR work must ensure safety, effectively utilize resources, and take people as the subject and center.

The Prime Minister ordered ministries, branches and localities to mobilize the synergy of the political system for FPF&FR work. Further promote propagation and dissemination activities to raise people's awareness and skills in FPF&FR; continue to improve institutions, regulations, norms, standards; strengthen supervision, inspection, and strictly handle violations in fire prevention and fighting work.

Reported by Tam Trang - Translated by Ngoc Huynh