Summer rise in fatal fires leads to calls for caution

Police seal off the scene of a fire in Kim Liên, Hà Nội, which killed five people. — VNA/VNS Photo.

HÀ NỘI — As the weather heats up over summer, fire prevention in residential areas, production workshops and factories is facing many limitations, potentially posing risks to the safety of people and property. 

Since mid-May, there have been many fires across the country, causing serious property damage.

One such fire, at 2am on June 13 at SCAVI Hue Textile Company, Phong Điền Industrial Park, Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, was only extinguished after eight hours.

Another fire broke out at a home on 147 Nguyễn An Ninh Street, Tương Mai Ward, Hoàng Mai District, Hà Nội on June 9, completely destroying the property.

In early June, a big fire broke out at the 400sq.m food warehouse of Đồng Huy Phát Trading Joint Stock Company at Bồ Đề Ward, Long Biên District, Hà Nội, destroying all goods. A police investigation revealed that the warehouse did not meet the requirements for fire prevention and fighting, and was suspended from operating by Long Biên District Police on July 2021.

A big fire occurred on June 6 at the warehouse owned by the HCM City’s Traffic Police Department, in Hiệp Bình Phước Ward, Thủ Đức City, destroying thousands of trucks, motorbikes and other vehicles seized by the police force for violating traffic regulations.

In total, there were 154 fires reported nationwide in May, killing 10 people and injuring three more, causing estimated property damages of VNĐ33.2 billion and 6.36 hectares of forest, an increase of 22 cases against April.

Police said that the causes of fires were mostly electrical equipment failure, human negligence and technical problems.

Police warned people to take fire prevention and safety measures seriously, including electricity safely, and update the app “fire alarm 114”.

Colonel Phạm Trung Hiếu, head of the Police Department for Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue (Hà Nội City Police), said that to effectively prevent fires in peak summer time, the unit has called on citizens to open escape routes in the old dormitories and apartments.

The police also closely monitored and have strict measures for the works that have not been tested and accepted for fire prevention and fighting. — VNS