Fire Safety Must Not Be Left Solely to Police Force

At the Dialogue with Businesses on Fire Safety, Rescue, Physical Security, and Digital Transformation for National Socio-Economic Developmentation for National Socio-Economic Development held in Ho Chi Minh City (August 14), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the importance of raising awareness and responsibility across the entire political system and society. He directed that fire prevention and firefighting work must not be left entirely to the police force; at the same time, he affirmed the necessity of building a culture of fire prevention and fighting, improving rescue skills among the population, and considering these efforts as the foundation for sustainable development.

Many outstanding results in fire prevention and rescue

The forum for dialogue with businesses on fire prevention and rescue, security and safety, and digital transformation to serve socio-economic development was chaired by the Ministry of Public Security, with the participation of leaders from ministries, sectors, central and local agencies, business associations, international organizations, and nearly 500 domestic and foreign enterprises specializing in security, safety, fire prevention, and rescue technology. This was the first time the event was held, in conjunction with a specialized international exhibition, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day on September 2, the 80th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the People’s Public Security, and the 20th anniversary of the National Day for National Security Protection.

In his opening speech, Senior Lieutenant General Le Van Tuyen, Deputy Minister of Public Security, emphasized that the forum serves as a bridge connecting management agencies, businesses, and the public to overcome challenges and promote the application of technology and digital transformation in fire prevention and rescue. He said that in recent years, fire prevention and rescue efforts have achieved many positive results, with reductions in the number of fires, explosions, deaths, injuries, and property damage, though the situation remains complex. Over the past five years alone, more than 17,600 fires occurred nationwide, averaging over 3,000 cases per year, resulting in 560 deaths, 606 injuries, and nearly VND4,000 billion in damages.

Speaking at the forum, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh assigned the Ministry of Public Security to coordinate with the Government Office to fully incorporate opinions from the forum in order to propose and issue appropriate mechanisms and documents, ensuring the principle of “6 clears”: clear people, clear work, clear time, clear products, clear responsibilities, and clear authority. He stressed that fire safety and rescue is a vital task directly linked to people’s lives and property, national security, and sustainable development. Therefore, all levels, sectors, organizations, businesses, and individuals must strengthen their sense of responsibility, avoiding any laxity or complacency.

"If a fire, explosion or natural disaster unfortunately occurs, we must have the skills and plans to respond and overcome it as quickly as possible, minimize damage, and try to avoid human losses," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested.

Assessing recent results, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that under the leadership of the Party, the strong direction of the Government, and the efforts of ministries, sectors, and localities, fire prevention, firefighting, and search and rescue work have seen many improvements. In particular, the timely drafting and promulgation of the Law on Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue 55/2024/QH15, the Law on Civil Defense, along with guiding decrees and circulars, have helped address shortcomings and enhance the effectiveness of state management.

Many resources have also been mobilized to invest in projects, procure modern equipment, and strengthen incident response capacity in high-rise buildings, underground facilities, seaports, and rivers. Vietnam has expanded international cooperation and taken part in search and rescue operations abroad, including in Türkiye and Myanmar. Statistics show that over the past five years, fire and rescue forces nationwide have extinguished tens of thousands of fires, saved thousands of people and significant property; hundreds of officers and soldiers were injured, and 34 sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. He emphasized: “This is the clearest evidence of the bravery, dedication, and heroic tradition of the People’s Public Security and the People’s Army.”

Collective efforts in fire safety

In addition to the achievements, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also highlighted several shortcomings: in some places, fire prevention and fighting management remains lax; many construction projects fail to comply with safety regulations; inspection and supervision are not strict; sanctions lack sufficient deterrence; and numerous businesses and households remain subjective and unprepared, lacking escape and rescue skills.

Children excitedly experience the role of firefighters  at International Fire Safety, Rescue, Security Exhibition 2025

To address these issues, he called for the synchronized implementation of multiple solutions. First and foremost, it is necessary to enhance the awareness and responsibility of the entire political system and all citizens, ensuring that the burden is not placed solely on the core forces. At the same time, it is essential to promptly develop a project on “Preventing and reducing fires causing serious damage to people and property, improving the effectiveness of search and rescue,” with the goal of fostering a fire prevention and fighting culture throughout society.

He also emphasized the role of the business community, stressing that businesses must strictly comply with legal regulations, proactively invest in modern fire prevention and fighting systems, and regularly organize training and drills. Businesses leaders must fully recognize their responsibilities, avoiding negligence or leaving matters to chance.

On the state management side, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed the promotion of administrative procedure reform to reduce costs while still ensuring security and safety. At the same time, he urged the strong application of science and technology, digital transformation, the development of a centralized database, and the implementation of level-4 online public services.

In the field of science and technology, he called for breakthroughs in research and the application of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and smart technologies to enhance forecasting, early warning, and response capacity in fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue. He also stressed the need to expand international cooperation, absorb and master advanced technologies, and move toward domestic production.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh further highlighted the importance of issuing a handbook on fire safety, rescue, and natural disaster preparedness for communities and businesses, ensuring it is simple, practical, and easy to apply so that every individual can actively protect themselves and others. Affirming his determination, he said: “Firefighting and rescue are not only the tasks of specialized forces but also the shared responsibility of the whole society. Every citizen and every enterprise must turn responsibility into concrete action to build a safe environment and ensure sustainable development for the country.”

Duy Anh (Vietnam Business Forum)