To proactively prevent, fight fire and explosion at businesses

In order to assure safety in production and business, functional branches and bodies strengthen and implement many solutions to prevent fires and explosions, limit damage to people and property in enterprises as well as residential areas.

A fire and rescue drill with the participation of many forces at Saigon STEC Company (VSIP 2).

Plans are ready

According to the provincial police leaders, Binh Duong has a fast rate of industrial and urban development. Therefore, many domestic and foreign investors coming to invest in the province, the demand for laborers increases rapidly, leading to a high mechanical population. Services are thriving, many conventional markets, supermarkets, commercial centers, housing complexes, high-rise apartments have been formed. The risk of fire and explosion is very high. Therefore, the province pays great attention to fire prevention and fighting in the area in general and in businesses in particular for the goal of sustainable development.

At the end of March, the Provincial People's Committee in collaboration with many forces held a drill on firefighting and rescue plans at Saigon STEC Company (VSIP 2). The hypothetical situation was that there is a fire at the company's factory. The cause of the fire was that during forklift operation to transfer goods to trucks, the driver did not pay attention, leading to a collision, puncturing the fuel tank. The flame spread over the fuel spilled and burnt flammable packages. The panicked driver ran out to call for help, the fire spread rapidly, created a lot of smoke, toxic gases, temperature of the fire increased, making it difficult for firefighting.

The fire then spread to workshop No.4, the generator room. The fire radiated high heat causing the collapse of factory No. 4, destroyed two diesel oil tanks and broke oil spill berms, causing 60m3 of diesel oil to spill out and a large area of fire. Oil overflowed to the company's drainage system to the common drainage of the industrial park, and made a serious impact on the surrounding environment.

Total area of the fire was about 557m2. At the time of the fire, 30 people were trapped unable to get out. The grassroots firefighting team deployed forces and means to carry out firefighting but was not effective, so they reported to the professional firefighting force. The grassroots firefighting force coordinated thoroughly with the authorities to promptly extinguish the fire, move people and property out of the burned area as quickly as possible.

Wada Kazuhito, CEO of Saigon STEC Company, said: "Thanks to this drill, the grassroots firefighting team had a chance to participate in practical training to respond in emergency situations. We see that Binh Duong province pays attention to businesses and assuring safety in production. We, investors and companies, will make every effort to comply with the regulations on firefighting, assuring safety, protecting property and workers’ lives."

Nguyen Van Danh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, said that in order for the prevention and response of environmental incidents caused by fire, explosion and firefighting work in the province to continue be effectively and practically implemented, leaders at all levels, branches, localities and heads of establishments must regularly prove their roles and take responsibilities; actively organize propagation, establish funds, consolidate forces and means on the spot, have specific plans to proactively prevent and respond effectively to situations that occur. Governmental agencies and levels need to seriously and effectively apply laws, guidelines and directions on firefighting and rescue. Enterprises need to comply with regulations on fire safety, first to protect assets of the enterprises themselves, then to assure safety for the production and business environment of the region and localities.

To proactively check and ensure safety

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Anh Tuan, Head of the Provincial Firefighting & Rescue Police Department, one of the many causes of fire is the subjective consciousness of the people as well as business owners in firefighting work. Currently it is the beginning of the dry season, has hot dry weather, the potential risk of fire and explosion is very high. Hence it is necessary to be vigilant in preventing incidents. Fire damage is unpredictable, not only human life, property of agencies, businesses, households, the process of remediation includes many social security issues.

With prolonged hot dry weather conditions, the dry season is a very likely time for fire and explosion. In order to prevent fires and explosions, the Firefighting & Rescue Police Department coordinated with agencies to "zone" areas and types of establishments containing high risk of fire and explosion to focus on inspection and supervision at industrial parks, residential areas, high-rise buildings... In addition, some business production facilities in residential areas were also checked for fire safety by functional forces.

During the inspection process, the functional forces specified the risks of fire safety from electrical system, from production process, storage of goods, the arrangement of emergency exits, especially at facilities that have changed its capacity to suit production scale after the pandemic. In addition, the authorities also focused on checking the maintenance of the operation of the grassroots firefighting force and firefighting vehicles. In fact, when a fire or explosion occurs, if these forces and vehicles are effective in a timely manner, at the right time, the incident will be handled quickly.

In addition to the firefighting management of professional forces, the establishment, consolidation and promotion of the role and responsibilities of grassroots firefighting forces is of the most importance in preventing and minimizing and explosion risk as well as timely response to incidents.

Reported by Tieu My, Cam Tu – Translated by Ngoc Huynh