Hanoi has urged the National Assembly to pass the Law on Forces Involved in Base Security and Order soon so that it has a basis for mobilizing people in rescue, fire prevention, and fighting work.

The civil defense force in Thanh Xuan District is in a training course on fire prevention work. Photos: The Hanoi Times

In a teleconference chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 12 on fire prevention and firefighting work, Hanoi People's Committee Permanent Vice President Le Hong Son suggested the government amend Decree No. 83 in 2017 and the circulars and guidelines of the Ministry of Public Security on rescue to improve its efficiency after the merger of the Fire and Rescue Police and Public Security departments in subnational cities.

The city is closely monitoring 326 establishments that have been temporarily suspended or permanently suspended for not complying with the safety requirements for fire prevention and fighting as prescribed.

The city has about 1,437 high-rise buildings and skyscrapers, nine industrial parks and high-tech parks, 70 industrial clusters, as well as 5,311 residential areas, including 438 residential areas with a high risk of fire and explosion.

“The role of the civil defense force in fire prevention and rescue work is very important. Therefore, the investment and effective operation of this force will contribute to the reduction of a number of fires and preventing the fire from spreading and causing serious damage,” Son said.

An overview of the teleconference.

Son said that Hanoi is working on a Master Plan for building capacity and ensuring fire safety and rescue in the capital area in the period 2022-2025, with an orientation to 2030 and a vision to 2050, which is seen as a solution to build a qualified force of civil defense meeting the city's requirements in the next time.

He also emphasized the strengthening of the professional skills of prevention and firefighting and rescue of the civil defense force through training courses for handling fire and explosion situations, incidents, and accidents in the early stages.