Fire prevention in apartment buildings: Do not be negligent or subjective

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Along with the rapid urbanization and strong development of apartment buildings, thereby meeting the housing needs of the majority of people, especially young people. However, the situation of fires and explosions at apartment buildings is currently happening more and more, with high potential risks, especially in the hot season. Therefore, there is an urgent need to innovate and further strengthen fire prevention and fighting (PCCC) at apartment buildings in the spirit of not being negligent or subjective, minimizing possible fires.

Officers and soldiers of the Fire Prevention Team, Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of the Provincial Police Department supervise the opening of the second emergency exit at Dong Phat apartment building, Hac Thanh ward.

Proactive prevention

In the province, there are currently 64 NCCs in operation, the highest is 25 floors and the lowest is 5 floors. The NCCs are mainly concentrated in Hac Thanh, Quang Phu, Dong Quang, Ham Rong, Nguyet Vien wards and some other wards and communes in the province. In fact, the newly built and operated NCCs in the province are all equipped with modern and synchronous fire prevention and fighting equipment such as: automatic fire alarm and fire fighting systems, smoke extraction in corridors, and elevator pressurization. The Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department (PC07) of the Provincial Police also proactively guides investors of NCCs to strictly implement the appraisal, approval of fire prevention and fighting designs, and acceptance of fire prevention and fighting systems according to regulations. At the same time, promote propaganda and dissemination of laws to raise awareness of NCC management boards and apartment residents about ensuring fire prevention and fighting safety and proactively prevent causes of fires such as: Strictly manage fire sources, heat sources, and power sources; Ensure the maintenance of operating conditions of fire prevention and fighting equipment and escape conditions; research and self-supply additional escape support tools such as gas masks and rope ladders.

In particular, training, practice of plans, and building of on-site fire prevention and fighting forces are regularly carried out by PC07 Department. Apartment residents are basically proficient in using on-site fire fighting equipment, electrical troubleshooting skills, fire alarm calling skills, and supporting the elderly and children when a fire occurs. Up to now, fire and explosion incidents at NCCs in the area have been handled by residents and security forces from the beginning.

According to preliminary statistics of PC07 Department, in the first 6 months of 2025, there were 53 fires in the province, fortunately there were no casualties; property damage was estimated at nearly 2 billion VND. There were also a number of fire incidents in the construction sector, but with the prompt and timely intervention of the on-site fire prevention and fighting force and local people, the fires were controlled and prevented from spreading, with no casualties or property damage.

Fire safety problems in old apartment buildings

However, fire prevention and fighting at NCCs in the province are showing limitations and shortcomings. The reason is that investors, management boards and operating management units at many NCCs are still subjective and have not proactively implemented measures to ensure fire safety according to the provisions of law. Along with not allocating funds for annual fire prevention and fighting activities, investors, management boards and operating management units of NCCs do not periodically inspect and maintain fire prevention and fighting equipment, leading to damage and ineffectiveness of the equipment. On the other hand, a part of NCC residents lack awareness in fire prevention and fighting activities such as: Not proactively equipping themselves with knowledge about fire prevention and fighting; arbitrarily blocking and blocking emergency exits at stairwells; arbitrarily connecting electricity, using poor quality equipment, leading to overload and fire; letting vehicles encroach on emergency exits and roads, affecting fire fighting and rescue activities when incidents occur.

At this time, Thanh Hoa province is in the peak of hot weather, with many potential fire risks in residential areas and NCC buildings. Through inspection and assessment of fire prevention and fighting work at NCCs by PC07 Department, there are currently 3 NCCs including Dong Phat, Mai Xuan Duong, and Nam Dai Lo Le Loi located in Hac Thanh ward that have many shortcomings in fire prevention and fighting work, with high potential fire risks. Because these are 3 old NCCs, built before the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting took effect, up to now they do not ensure fire prevention and fighting conditions.

Specifically, most of the fire protection equipment at these 3 NCCs are not regularly maintained and are no longer usable. The stairs in the house are left open and not placed in the stairwell, which does not ensure safe escape for people. More importantly, on the first floor, households sell goods and make roofs outside the apartment building. The adjacent sides of the apartment building are arranged with yards, trees, power lines, and cables that do not ensure the height for fire trucks to operate. Meanwhile, in some locations, due to security needs, residents arbitrarily install folding doors and lock the doors at night to protect their property, affecting escape activities in case of fire or explosion. Although the Provincial People's Council has issued a resolution on handling constructions that do not meet fire prevention and fighting conditions and were put into operation before the 2001 Fire Prevention and Fighting Law. However, clearly identifying the responsible entity in organizing and implementing general fire prevention and fighting activities at NCCs such as renovating and repairing fire prevention and fighting systems and purchasing compulsory fire and explosion insurance still has many shortcomings due to large investment costs.

Promote the movement "All people participate in fire prevention and fighting in apartment buildings"

To minimize the possibility of fires occurring at NCCs in the province, in the coming time, PC07 Department will continue to advise the Director of the Provincial Police to propose to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to direct departments, branches, sectors and authorities of wards and communes to urgently and effectively implement solutions in fire prevention and fighting. In the immediate future, investors, management boards, and operating management units of NCCs are required to arrange independent parking lots for residents and ensure funding to overcome existing problems in fire prevention and fighting. Upgrade and replace degraded and damaged electrical lines and equipment to ensure system safety and prevent fire and explosion. In the long term, investors, management boards, and operating management units need to arrange funding to invest in, renovate, and repair fire prevention and fighting systems for 3 old apartment buildings: Dong Phat, Mai Xuan Duong, and Nam Dai Lo Le Loi.

In addition, PC07 Department will strengthen propaganda, training and promote the movement "All people participate in fire prevention and fighting in apartment buildings", to raise residents' awareness in complying with and maintaining fire prevention and fighting safety conditions, promptly handling when fire and explosion situations occur. Every year, proactively advise the Provincial Police Director and the Provincial People's Committee to organize specialized inspections for 100% of the service providers in the area. Thereby, promptly and strictly handle and require the management board, management board, and apartment residents to overcome shortcomings and deficiencies in fire prevention and fighting work, especially maintaining the operational status of fire prevention and fighting equipment.

Article and photos: Tran Thanh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phong-chay-chua-chay-tai-cac-nha-chung-cu-khong-lo-la-chu-quan-258123.htm