Warning of fire hazards due to electrical short circuits during the rainy and stormy season.

The first rains of the season in Ho Chi Minh City often trigger fires in electrical wiring, substations, and household electrical systems, causing damage to both people and property. Prior to the 2026 rainy season, the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City issued a warning to inform residents and minimize losses of life and property caused by these fires…

A series of fires caused by electrical short circuits have occurred at the beginning of the rainy season.

Sáng 17/5, đám cháy bùng phát tại căn nhà 2 tầng trên đường số 4, KP60, phường Linh Xuân, TP Hồ Chí Minh . Trong nhà có 3 người, có 2 người thoát ra được, riêng anh NMK (SN 2006) nằm ngủ bên trong phòng, không kịp thoát ra, bị bỏng nặng, tử vong. Căn nhà này vừa là nơi ở vừa là nơi kết hợp kinh doanh tiệm cắt tóc. Bước đầu xác định nguyên nhân dẫn đến cháy là do chập điện tại phòng ngủ của K.

A house fire caused by an electrical short circuit in Linh Xuan ward resulted in the death of a 20-year-old man in his bedroom.

The day before, a fire broke out in a two-story house, approximately 60 square meters in size, located in an alley off Truong Chinh Street, near the Bay Hien intersection in Bay Hien ward. A young woman inside the house shouted for help.

Despite mobilizing numerous fire extinguishers to put out the fire, the blaze was too large for residents to control. Professional firefighters had to extend hoses deep into the alley to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading. The house was home to five people; at the time of the fire, only the eldest daughter of the homeowner was inside. She was rescued just in time. The initial cause of the fire has been determined to be an electrical short circuit.

The hot weather and early season rains have led to short circuits in outdoor electrical systems.

Outdoor fires pose a threat to nearby homes.

Even at the beginning of the rainy season, numerous fires and explosions have already occurred in the electrical system.

The 110KV transformer substation caught fire.

In another incident, a fire broke out in the area where the outdoor air conditioner unit was located on the balcony of an apartment on the 7th floor, block C1, at 454 Vo Chi Cong Street, Long Truong Ward, causing panic among residents. The owner of the apartment was fortunate to escape before smoke spread into the rooms.

Mr. Le Ngoc Dung, Chairman of the Long Truong Ward People's Committee, said that thanks to the homeowner's early detection and reporting, the management board and residents were able to control the fire after about 10 minutes. Firefighters then arrived to coordinate the inspection and handling of the scene. Initial findings indicate the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.

The outdoor unit of an air conditioner caught fire in an apartment on the 7th floor of an apartment building in Long Truong ward.

After a long period of extreme heat, the first heavy rains of the season caused short circuits in many electrical systems, leading to fires that terrified passersby. The fire on Thong Nhat Street, involving electrical cables, engulfed and damaged telecommunications cables. Professional firefighters had to block off a section of the road to extinguish the blaze.

On May 18th, a large fire emitting toxic fumes and accompanied by multiple explosions occurred at the 110KV transformer station on Thanh Loc 16 Street, An Phu Dong Ward, causing widespread concern. Fortunately, the incident was resolved promptly.

Prevention is better than cure.

Many people mistakenly believe that fires and explosions only occur during intense sunlight and high temperatures. However, at the beginning of the rainy season, electrical systems, having endured prolonged exposure to high temperatures, experience peeling of their protective plastic coatings. Heavy rain and strong winds, coupled with poorly inspected electrical systems during the rainy season, can lead to short circuits and fires. This complacent attitude leads to a neglect of fire prevention and control measures, and when electrical short circuits occur, people simply lament their misfortune.

Fires caused by electrical short circuits account for a high percentage of fire causes during the rainy season.

According to the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City, the units responsible for supplying electricity only handle the safety of the power grid up to the main circuit breaker or switch, while the wiring inside people's homes is handled and managed by the residents themselves. Therefore, the electrical systems in people's homes are often haphazardly connected and used; the tools used to make electrical connections, and the cables and wires used are made of cheap, substandard materials, making them very dangerous and prone to short circuits and fires.

Firefighting forces have been continuously deploying personnel during the early days of the rainy season.

Due to a lack of understanding and consultation during house design, designers only pay attention to grounding and lightning protection using lightning rods, but neglect the safe grounding system for electrical equipment used in the house. Therefore, when an electrical leak occurs, the likelihood of users being electrocuted, posing a serious threat to their lives, is very high.

Furthermore, outdated electrical wiring systems do not guarantee safety when transmitting electricity simultaneously; these power lines have to "struggle" to handle a large number of electronic devices in the house, easily leading to fires and explosions. In low-lying areas and places frequently flooded, unsafe electrical systems can lead to short circuits, endangering people's lives.

Many people trapped in the fires were rescued in time by the rescue forces.

The Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department advises people on measures to avoid fire and explosion incidents related to electricity, including reinforcing roofs and houses to prevent electrical short circuits, and cutting down tall trees to prevent damage to electrical systems during storms and heavy rain. Businesses should check their advertising signs and electronic billboards to prevent short circuits. People should carefully check all electronic devices used in their homes before leaving to avoid short circuits that could cause fires.

Many units under the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department also implement measures to assist the people. The Firefighting and Rescue Team of Area 2 has implemented the model of "Repairing and renovating electrical systems to ensure fire safety for disadvantaged households and policy beneficiary households" in its managed area.

Firefighters are inspecting wiring systems and electrical equipment for households facing difficulties, as a precaution against fires during the rainy season.

Officers from the team, in coordination with the Tam Binh Ward Police, Thu Duc Power Company, and the Ward People's Committee, regularly inspect households facing difficulties, checking electrical wiring, circuit breakers, sockets, and electrical equipment; replacing unsafe equipment; tidying and rearranging household electrical wiring; and guiding residents on safe and economical electricity use. The unit also assists residents in handling initial fire situations, providing escape skills, installing the "Help 114" and "Fire Alarm 114" applications, and donating fire extinguishers and gas masks to disadvantaged households.

The Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City Police recommends that residents check their home electrical systems to avoid unfortunate losses of life and property, and to ensure fire safety.

Minh Duc

Source: https://cand.vn/canh-bao-chay-no-do-cham-chap-dien-trong-mua-mua-bao-post811831.html