From a typical fire

At 14.14pm on April 15, 2008, a fire broke out at the ACS-Charwie Joint Venture Company in Ho Chi Minh City which specialises in producing fur scarves for export. Even though the fire was completely extinguished after 7 hours with the assistance of firefighters, it destroyed the entire weaving workshop as well as a product warehouse, causing an estimated loss of US$2.8 million. Thanks to the firefighters, the flames were prevented from licking the company’s chemical and material warehouses as well as more than 300 houses nearby.

Reports at a review meeting between the local Fire Brigade and company leaders showed that the Fire Brigade received the phone call 20 minutes after the fire had broken out. As it was a national holiday that day, the company had only 6 staff, including 2 foreign experts, on duty. They only used the fire extinguishers that were available, not the hydrants on the street. In addition, it took considerable time for the firefighters to enter the burning workshop and warehouses because the facilities used fireproof electrical rolling doors. Surface hydrants were located too far from the company to be useful while a traffic jam in front of the company prevented the firefighters from putting out the fire.

People’s apathy

According to the Fire Prevention Force under the Ministry of Public Security, as many as 1,262 fires were reported across the country in the past nine months, mostly at workplaces and residential areas, killing 20 people and injuring 141 others. Total losses were estimated at VND445 billion.

Even though the number of fires fell by 13 cases compared to the same period last year, one third of them were caused by people’s careless use of fuel sources at workplaces and during their daily life, and another one third were caused by electrical incidents. Statistics showed that the electricity system is not installed properly in buildings and houses, particularly self-built houses, and many families are unaware about electric safety. The crisscrossed transmission lines at residential areas, which were installed decades ago, are seriously deteriorated, causing overloading, electrical leakage and short circuits. 

Big fires down, but losses up

Though only 21 big fires broke out in the past nine months, their material losses amounted to VND381 billion, making up 80 percent of total losses. Notably, fires at foreign invested businesses caused huge losses (more than 70 percent of the total) and a bad impact on the investment environment. Four fires alone cost Taiwanese-invested companies VND181.2 billion.

The General Department of Police has instructed the Fire Prevention Police Force to examine fire prevention work at foreign invested businesses to draw lessons and increase prevention measures. Conferences have been held to raise awareness about fire prevention among foreign invested businesses.

Difficulties and solutions

The Fire Prevention Police Force says it has encountered difficulties in fire prevention and rescue work. Many houses built in residential areas are made of flammable materials, and markets, trade centres, high-rise buildings and production workshops are located near or around these areas. Many places lack electrical safety equipment, water resources and fire personnel.

According to the Fire Prevention Police Force, a chronic lack of professional firefighters makes it impossible for fire prevention police teams to fan out to large areas if they are required. The teams also lack special equipment to put out complex fires such as those occurring in forests, high-rise buildings, underground mines, or on the river and at sea.

To minimise the number of fires and losses, it is necessary to increase the dissemination of information about fire prevention among the population and at workplaces.

The Fire Prevention Police Force will step up inspections, instruct power users to adopt safety measures and deal strictly with fire prevention law-breakers.