Do not underestimate the risks of fire and explosions.

These days, as peach and apricot blossoms prepare to bloom, the lingering effects of the old year are not only joyful but also hauntingly somber, marked by smoke and ashes. The series of fires from Hanoi and Hai Phong to Dong Thap in less than two weeks serves as a wake-up call, reminding us that the peace and tranquility leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Horse is more fragile than we imagine.

The two unfortunate victims were brought down by rescue forces using a ladder truck. Photo: nhandan.vn

Just yesterday morning (January 8th), while many people were starting their workday, the sound of fire sirens pierced the air on Le Loi Street (Ha Dong, Hanoi ). A six-story building was engulfed in flames from the first floor, with thick black smoke billowing and covering the entire street. This incident adds to the series of sad news we have witnessed recently.

Just a few days earlier, at the very last moment of 2025, Hang Ma Street witnessed a five-story building engulfed in flames. Further back, December 28th became a "dark day" when fires simultaneously struck the Geleximco urban area, Dinh Cong Green Market (Hanoi), and two large factories in Hai Phong . Fires raged everywhere, from private homes and upscale shophouses to local markets and even bustling production lines rushing to fulfill orders.

But the most heartbreaking and shocking event was the fire in Dong Thap that claimed the lives of two children. Property can be rebuilt, a burned factory can be reconstructed, but those lives were tragically cut short just before the New Year. That is too high a price to pay!

Why do fires occur so frequently in December?

Could it be that, behind the hustle and bustle of these "last-minute rush," we are inadvertently compromising safety? In factories, machinery operates non-stop, overloading the electrical system to meet deadlines. In businesses, goods are piled high, encroaching on walkways and obscuring old electrical outlets. We build sturdy "tiger cages" to deter thieves and protect our property, but forget to create an escape route for our own lives in times of trouble.

The hustle and bustle of life seems to be making us complacent. The "it'll be fine" mentality has created deadly risks. A cigarette butt, a flickering electrical wire, or a moment of carelessness when lighting incense or burning votive paper... all can turn a year's, or even a lifetime's, worth of effort into ashes.

Looking at the plumes of black smoke rising from Hanoi or Hai Phong, we can't help but be startled. These localities all have bustling commercial districts, industrial zones brightly lit day and night, and even narrow, long tube houses. The risk of fire and explosions is indiscriminate, affecting everyone if complacency persists.

The silence after the fire sirens blare is a time for everyone to reflect on their own homes, production facilities, and businesses. Don't wait until disaster strikes to regret with the words "if only." Right now, instead of sighing, take action: Clean up your goods, check your power supply, remind yourself to be more careful, and most importantly, create an escape route for yourself, so that Tet remains a season of peace.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/tin-moi/202601/khongchu-quan-voi-chay-no-bde035b/