HCM City strengthens fire prevention, fighting in high-rise apartment buildings

Fire-fighting exercise at an apartment building in HCM City’s Gò Vấp District. — Photo www.sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY — The HCM City People’s Committee has issued a plan to strengthen fire prevention and fighting in high-rise residential buildings, apartment buildings, and individual houses.

The city seeks to raise awareness and the responsibility of the Party committees, authorities at all levels, and residents in complying with regulations and implementing fire fighting and safety.

The plan aims to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of construction, fire prevention and fighting, and strengthen legal compliance and skills for firefighting, prevention, and search and rescue activities.

The municipal People’s Committee has requested the city’s Department of Public Security to review, inspect, and classify high-rise residential buildings, apartment buildings, and individual houses, in order to bolster fire prevention and fighting measures.

Heads of business facilities and homeowners have been asked to make plans to implement enhanced fire prevention and fighting measures launched by the municipal People’s Committee and complete the implementation of these measures before March 3, 2025.

After the assigned deadline, the city would order a suspension of operations for establishments that have not carried out their fire prevention and fighting plans yet.

In addition, the city’s Police will collaborate with the Department of Construction, Department of Industry and Trade, HCM City Power Corporation, relevant units, the people’s committees of Thủ Đức city and districts to organise interdisciplinary inspection teams to conduct inspections of facilities with high risk of fire and explosion, especially high-rise residential buildings, apartment buildings, and individual houses that are combined with businesses.

The city’s Department of Construction has been requested to strengthen state management in urban planning and construction of high-rise residential buildings, markets, workshops, bars, nightclubs, karaoke bars, houses converted for other uses, apartment buildings, and individual houses combined with production and business; strictly impose fines on violations in accordance with law; and be responsible for appraising, licensing, and managing construction orders. — VNS