Examining, evaluating and perfecting the civil defense mechanism at the provincial level

One of the response capacity tests , The large-scale disaster response exercise will take place at Lang Son Provincial General Hospital on October 26, 2025. This is a provincial-level exercise mobilizing over 500 people and nearly 50 specialized vehicles to participate, not only as a technical challenge, but also as an opportunity for units to comprehensively consolidate the command mechanism, comprehensive inter-sectoral coordination according to the Law on Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue (PCCC and CNCH). Up to now, after more than 2 weeks of urgent and serious training, the participating forces are ready for the provincial-level fire prevention and rescue plan practice session to ensure safety and meet the technical requirements.

The exercise was built on a hypothetical scenario, a fire broke out at 8:00 a.m. on October 26, 2025, at the medical alcohol storage warehouse and kitchen on the 4th floor, building A of the Provincial General Hospital in Ky Lua ward, Lang Son province. The fire spread to 2 patient rooms of the Trauma - Burn Department on the 4th floor of building E and the 4th floor of the Pharmacy Department on building B, and the entire buildings A, B, E and part of building C were affected by toxic smoke. The cause was assumed to be an electrical failure at the medical alcohol storage warehouse, causing the alcohol to catch fire and spread. At the same time, the panic of the kitchen staff caused the gas stove to fall to the floor, leading to a gas leak, burning the entire 4th floor of building A and 2 adjacent rooms on the 4th floor of building E. It is expected that more than 200 people were present at the incident site, many of whom were trapped. In addition, the scenario also simulates a traffic accident that causes a person to be trapped under a car right at the emergency area, forcing fire prevention and rescue forces to handle many tasks at the same time.

Learn from each training session

Hospitals are special environments with strict fire safety requirements because they involve many patients and doctors performing their duties. When a fire breaks out, the rescue must be very fast, accurate, and ensure maximum safety for all staff and patients is the top priority.

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Huy Tam, Deputy Head of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of the Provincial Police, Head of the Command Board for the practice of the fire prevention and rescue plan, mobilizing many forces to participate at the provincial level, said: The Fire Prevention and Rescue Police force is the main force in the scenario practice, handling the simulated fire and explosion situation at the hospital according to the plan of the Provincial People's Committee and mobilizing 100% of the department's staff to participate. Therefore, the department has developed a detailed training plan, divided into groups and assigned specific tasks, organized field training, and evaluated the results through each training session.

Officers and soldiers of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department, Provincial Police practice rescue plans

Due to the nature of the exercise being to assess the ability to respond to and resolve fire and explosion incidents of agencies and units, during the preparation and training process, safety must be ensured, seriousness must be maintained, and orders must be followed properly.

In particular, after each training session, the Command Board regularly meets to draw experience and have timely solutions such as: arranging forces, means, coordination between specialized and non-specialized forces...

Through monitoring, it shows that the script research and practice organization of the participating units are very serious, proficient, and perfected through each practice session.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tien Phong, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Provincial Military Command, said: Implementing the direction plans of the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Military Command has organized training at the unit in accordance with the assigned tasks set out in the scenario. Accordingly, the unit has proactively prepared, divided into groups to participate in each task, and at the same time thoroughly disseminated the working regulations to ensure absolute safety for people and vehicles during the entire process of maneuvering and performing tasks at the scene. With determination and a high sense of responsibility, we believe that the officers and soldiers will excellently complete the task, contributing to the overall success of the fire fighting plan at Lang Son Provincial General Hospital.

It is known that more than 100 people from the Provincial Military Command participated in the exercise, performing many different tasks such as: rescue work, supplying water to vehicles, playing the role of trapped victims...

Mastering skills to protect communities from natural disasters and catastrophes

Lang Son has a strategic location and the fastest economic trade speed across the land border in the country, so fire prevention and rescue work is always the top priority of the province. Therefore, the large-scale provincial fire prevention and rescue plan exercise in 2025 is very urgent, not only to improve response capacity but also to affirm the capacity to protect the safety of people and businesses in the province.

Fire Prevention and Fighting Team of Na Duong Thermal Power Company practices fire fighting plan

The Fire Prevention Team of Na Duong Thermal Power Company is one of 14 units participating in this exercise. Mr. Nong Ly Minh, Captain of the Fire Prevention Team of Na Duong Thermal Power Company, said: This is a provincial-level exercise. The unit's leaders have proactively developed a plan, summoned 7 members of the agency's specialized fire prevention team, and organized the exercise from October 7. During the implementation process, the fire prevention team focused on studying the scenario, plan, and practicing seriously. The goal is that the exercise will not only help the team complete the tasks assigned by the province, but also be an opportunity for the unit to review the fire and explosion response capacity of the unit's specialized fire prevention force, in order to protect the safety of life, property, and stable operation of the economic facility.

The complexity of the situation and scenario places very high demands on the professional expertise of each officer and soldier, requiring fluency in both CC&CNCH skills as well as coordination between forces to ensure the safety of life and property of the state, people and businesses.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Duc Kien, Deputy Head of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Team, Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department, Provincial Police, said: In reality, when a fire occurs, the implementation of fire extinguishing and rescue measures is very complicated. Therefore, the pressure comes not only from the fire but also from psychological factors and survival. We have to master both skills, quickly deploy the team, guide and coordinate with non-specialized units to handle the situation effectively and promptly. All participating units worked hard for the dual goal of saving people and extinguishing the fire.

The Provincial General Hospital Fire Prevention Team practices fire fighting plans

The provincial-level exercise not only tests the means but also verifies the institutional and leadership aspects, especially in assessing the ability to mobilize and manage inter-sectoral resources. The success of the exercise will be a solid foundation for Lang Son to perfect its civil defense mechanism and improve the effectiveness of fire prevention and fighting work in the new situation. The Steering Committee will organize experience sharing and timely rewards for groups and individuals with outstanding achievements right after the end of the exercise, in order to replicate typical examples and further consolidate the safety network for the people.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/san-sang-thuc-tap-phuong-an-chua-chay-va-cuu-nan-cuu-ho-quy-mo-cap-tinh-5062877.html