Police nationwide asked to take drastic preventive measures against fire

• Fire police force asked to enhance fire prevention and rescue operation
• Public security units sign coordination regulation on fire prevention and fighting and rescue

Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung speaks at the event.

The meeting, which was connected to all provincial-level police departments across the country, took place at a time when localities recently saw big fire incidents. 

According to reports at the meeting, over the past time, the Fire and Rescue Police Department, under the direction of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), has coordinated with relevant units to draft various legal documents regulating fire safety and fire prevention.

Provincial-level police departments also advised the local authorities to establish Fire Prevention Steering Committees and interdisciplinary working teams to inspect and strictly handle violations and shortcomings in fire safety and fire prevention. 

They also recommended the upper levels to invest more in firefighting infrastructure, water supply, and firefighting equipment.

Regarding urgent missions to prevent fire in the coming time, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung asked police agencies and units at all levels to effectively conduct public education about skills to survive in fire incidents and prevent fire as well as safety regulations when using electric devices, gas cookers and chemicals.

The Deputy Minister also asked the Criminal Investigation Agency’s Office, the Fire and Rescue Police Department, the Department of Legal Affairs and Administrative, Judicial Reforms, and the Criminal Science Institute under the MPS to develop legal documents and procedures for investigation and handling of fires and explosions.

At the meeting, representatives of the Fire and Rescue Police Department launched an intensive dissemination drive on fire safety regulations in residential areas and household businesses. They also briefed the delegates on the MPS’s guidelines on mobilizing forces and vehicles to handle large-scale and complicated fire accidents.

* According to statistics, over the past three years (2018 - 2020), 10,930 fire incidents were reported across Vietnam, 1.08% of which was rated as severe and huge fires. The fire incidents killed 235 people, injured 508 others, caused a total loss of VND 4,911.3 billion, and destroyed 30,901.9 ha of forest. 

Delegates at the event.