Fire and Rescue Police: 65 Years of Growth and Dedication to Public Safety

After 65 years of service, the Fire and Rescue Police Force has developed extensive practical experience and continuously strengthened its operational capabilities to respond to increasingly complex risks. On the occasion of the 65th Traditional Day of the Fire and Rescue Police Force (October 4, 1961 - October 4, 2026), our reporter interviewed Major General Duong Duc Hai, Director of the Department of Fire and Rescue Police under the Ministry of Public Security, about the force’s key achievements over the past 65 years, the challenges ahead and its priorities for the years to come.

After 65 years of development, what do you consider the key milestones of the Fire and Rescue Police Force, particularly in engaging the public in fire safety and rescue efforts?

Looking back over the past 65 years, I believe the achievements of the Fire and Rescue Police Force are reflected not only in its record of service and honors, but also in the lives saved, the property of the Government and people protected, and the dedication and sacrifice of generations of officers and soldiers.

The first is the force’s tradition of courage and readiness to sacrifice for the people. Since its establishment on October 4, 1961, the force has been forged through wartime experience, going to the most dangerous places to fight fires, rescue people and protect key targets. In peacetime, officers and soldiers continue to face fires, emergencies and life-threatening accidents. Courage, dedication and the spirit of “forgetting oneself for the country and serving the people” have become core values of the force.

The second is the force’s steady development in its responsibilities, organization and operational capabilities. Originally focused primarily on fire prevention and firefighting, the force has expanded its mission to include rescue operations and has gradually shifted from administrative oversight to risk-based management supported by law, standards, technology and data. Its capabilities have also been demonstrated through international rescue missions in Turkey, Myanmar and Venezuela.

Another important achievement is the stronger role of communities and the public in fire safety and rescue. No professional force can identify every risk or reach every location within the first few minutes of an emergency. That is why, alongside professional firefighters and rescuers, preparedness at the local level and among the public is essential.

Since 2001, October 4 has been observed annually as National Fire Prevention and Fighting Day, helping turn awareness into action: every agency and company takes steps to ensure fire safety; every family identifies potential hazards and prepares escape routes; and everyone knows how to report a fire, use basic firefighting equipment and evacuate safely.

Major General Duong Duc Hai, Director of the Fire and Rescue Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security, visits a booth at the International Fire Safety & Rescue Vietnam - Secutech Vietnam 2026

Professional responders may arrive quickly, but the first response often comes from people at the scene. When individuals, families and facilities know how to protect themselves, the country’s overall fire safety and rescue capacity becomes much stronger.

Could you give us an overview of the fire and rescue situation during the first eight months of 2026? How do you assess the challenges facing the force and its key tasks in the coming period?

During the first eight months of 2026, the country recorded 1,993 fires and 14 explosions, killing 65 people and injuring 94, with estimated property damage of around VND578 billion. The Fire and Rescue Police Force maintained round-the-clock readiness, rescued 955 people and protected large amounts of Government and public property. In particular, 42 officers and soldiers successfully completed an international rescue mission in Venezuela, further demonstrating the professionalism, operational capabilities and sense of responsibility of Vietnam’s Public Security Force.

Institutional reform, administrative reform and digital transformation have also made significant progress. The command information center, fire alarm communication system and specialized database are laying the foundation for a shift from fragmented management to data-driven command and response.

However, fire and explosion risks remain complex, particularly in residential areas, homes that combine living space with production or business activities, and older buildings with unresolved fire safety issues. New risks associated with electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, high-rise buildings, underground facilities and extreme weather events are becoming increasingly complex, while the force’s resources and equipment do not yet fully meet operational needs.

In the coming period, we will focus on effectively implementing Directive No. 02-CT/TW of the Party Central Committee Secretariat on strengthening Party leadership over fire prevention, firefighting and rescue, and Scheme No. 08/DA-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security on reducing fires that cause serious damage. This includes linking fire safety outcomes to the responsibilities of agency and organizational leaders; moving toward data-based risk management; prioritizing areas and types of facilities at high risk of major fires or fires causing fatalities; strengthening local response capabilities; modernizing equipment; and improving our ability to respond to major emergencies and disasters.

The ultimate measure is not how many inspections have been conducted, but whether we can reduce serious fires, reach incidents more quickly and save more lives.

As you have just mentioned, to put Directive No. 02-CT/TW into practice and effectively implement Scheme No. 08/DA-BCA on reducing fires that cause serious damage, what solutions are you focusing on, particularly in public education and encouraging community participation in fire safety?

Our view is that Directive No. 02-CT/TW and Scheme No. 08/DA-BCA should not be treated as short-term campaigns. They must bring about lasting change, from the responsibilities of agency and organizational leaders to the ability of individual facilities and households to prevent fires and respond to emergencies.

We are focusing on specific measures to put these requirements into practice, clearly defining timelines, expected results and responsibilities, and linking the responsibilities of agency and organizational leaders to the fire and explosion situation in the areas and sectors under their management. Prevention efforts are shifting toward risk-based management, with high-risk areas and facilities reviewed and classified. Particular attention is being given to homes that combine living space with production or business activities, multi-story homes, crowded facilities, warehouses, workshops and industrial parks, so that corrective measures can be taken promptly and violations that directly threaten human life can be dealt with strictly.

Along with strengthening civil defense forces and local fire safety teams and conducting thorough reviews of “Community Fire Safety Groups” and “Public Firefighting Stations,” public education is shifting from simply providing information to developing practical skills and encouraging safer behavior. Content must be tailored to different audiences and types of risk, using television, digital learning materials, QR codes, the 114 Fire Alert app and hands-on activities.

The effectiveness of public education should not be measured by the number of sessions or leaflets distributed, but by whether people can identify risks, use firefighting equipment and respond appropriately during the first few minutes of an emergency. When people know how to protect themselves and those around them, community fire safety becomes much more effective.

Alongside this, under Scheme No. 10/DA-BCA-C07 and the “Three Mosts” emulation movement, what solutions are you focusing on to develop a force that is “truly clean, strong, disciplined, highly skilled and modern”?

Scheme No. 10 and the “Three Mosts” emulation movement share the goal of developing a modern force by investing in its people and turning the requirements for force development into standards for everyday work.

With “Most Disciplined,” we focus on standardizing procedures, maintaining strict discipline and ensuring continuous readiness, while promoting professional discipline, data management and a strong sense of responsibility in serving the people.

With “Most Loyal,” we focus on political and ethical education, professional ethics, strengthening officers’ sense of duty and their readiness to take on difficult assignments, while putting the lives and safety of the people first.

With “Closest to the People,” we strengthen our presence in local communities, streamline procedures, use technology and proactively help residents and companies identify and address fire risks before they become emergencies.

Through these efforts, the organizational structure continues to be strengthened, while the quality of training, command capabilities, coordination and operational readiness continue to improve. Modernization is not only about equipment. It also requires modern thinking, strict discipline, strong operational skills and a genuine commitment to serving the public.

On the occasion of the 65th Traditional Day of the Fire and Rescue Police Force and the 25th National Fire Prevention and Fighting Day, what message would you like to send to the business community and the public?

I would like to send businesses, residents and society as a whole a very simple message: do not wait for a fire to happen before thinking about fire safety. An incident can begin with a momentary lapse lasting only a few seconds, but its consequences can erase achievements built over many years or even take away the one thing that cannot be replaced: human life.

For companies, fire safety is not a cost incurred simply to pass inspections or complete regulatory requirements. It is an investment in protecting people, assets, reputation and business continuity. Every company should incorporate fire and explosion risks into its risk management system, ensure safety from design and construction through operation, and conduct regular self-inspections, training and drills. In today’s supply chains, the ability to maintain safe operations is also part of a company’s competitiveness.

For every family and individual, start with specific actions: check electrical systems and battery charging areas; manage sources of fire and heat; prepare escape routes; equip the home with appropriate firefighting equipment; and make sure everyone in the family knows what to do in an emergency. Knowledge only has real value when it becomes a skill and a daily habit.

After 65 years of protecting lives and property and serving the public, we understand more than ever that lasting safety cannot be created solely by firefighters. When each person takes one more safety measure, each family eliminates one more risk and each company fulfills one more responsibility, the community will face one less hazard.

Safety does not begin when the fire truck leaves the station. Safety begins with the awareness and actions of every individual, family and company.

Thank you very much!