The Da Nang Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue Police Division has issued a strong reminder for local residents to be vigilant of potential fire and explosion hazards during the hot weather. Public awareness and individual responsibility are needed for controlling fire hazards in residential settings.

The Da Nang Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue Police Division worked with its counterpart in Quang Nam Province to stamp out a fire at the Woochang Garment Company located in Trang Nhat 1 Industrial Cluster, Dien Thang Trung Commune, Dien Ban Town, the neighbouring province of Quang Nam. Photo: BICH LIEN

Potential fire and explosion hazards in residential areas and industrial parks

Captain Dao Ngoc Trung from the Da Nang Police Division of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue said that a total of 28 fires have been reported in the city since the beginning of the year, consisting 19 incidents in homes or 67.85% of the city’s incidents, 1 in the workplace, 5 in vehicles, and 3 in others.  No fire-related deaths have been reported in the city but fires have caused VND 112.7 million in property damage.

Specifically, at 8:00 pm on May 23, a large fire broke out in a two-storey house of a 56 year-old man on My An 14 Street in Ngu Hanh Son District. Neighbours described the moment they heard an 'explosion' and saw black smoke rising from his house while doors in his home was locked. They were probably worried about their own property. Firefighters were called to the scene, and the fire took many hours to bring under control. Fortunately, there was no one in the house at the time but most of the furniture in the house was almost burned down.

Also on May 23, another home fire occurred in the alley No. 195 on Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, Hai Chau District at 11:44pm. It took more than one hour for firefighters to stamp out the fire.

On the afternoon of May 25, a large fire broke out at the Woochang Garment Company located in Trang Nhat 1 Industrial Cluster,  Dien Thang Trung Commune, Dien Ban Town, the neighbouring province of Quang Nam. Ten fire engines along with many firefighters from the Da Nang Division of Fire Fighting and Prevention, arrived on the scene quickly to support their collegues’efforts in Quang Nam Province to control the fire. It took firefighters more than four hours to put out the blaze. Fortunately, there were no human injuries from the incident, but the fire resulted in significant property damge.

80% fires due to faulty electrics

Nearly 80 per cent of the annual fires in Da Nang happened due to faulty electrical connections, as found by local relevant agencies.

Many older homes in the city were built with electrical systems and components which are no longer safe and may be considered as fire hazards.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Nam strongly advises local residents to take preventive and mitigative measures to reduce the number of short-circuit incidents in the city, along with asking them to regularly check electrical installations in their homes. The public are advised against using too many electrical appliances at a time in their homes that cause electrical circuit overloads, leading fire hazards. Homes and businesses are asked to not store such dangerous substances with the potential to cause harm, fire or even explosions, including petrol, oil, mini gas cylinders.

Traders who sell flammable goods such as clothes and cushions can prevent a fire and keep safe by removing hazards in their stores. Their goods must be kept far away from heat and electrical sources while fire exits must be available in their stores to permit prompt evacuation of themselves and their customers during an emergency.

Residents are urged to stay vigilant against fire and explosion hazards in their homes, take proactive action in response to incidents, as well as dial114 if they need the help of firefighters.

Reporting by NGOC QUOC – Translating by H.L