US$1 billion fire prevention program approved

The plan targets that all homes in the capital are well-equipped to prevent and respond to fires. At least one member of the family must be trained in emergency skills.

Houses rented for residential and commercial purposes must have an emergency exit in addition to the entrance.

At least 2 percent of all households in the city to voluntarily register for firefighting and rescue operations. Meanwhile, a civil protection team of 100 percent of neighborhoods will be consolidated to be effective, especially in responding to the fire.

Civil servants, government officials, and students will be encouraged to attend training courses on fire prevention.

The fire department will be provided with modern equipment to improve its efficiency, especially in fighting fires in basements and narrow alleys.

By 2030, some 33 new fire stations will be in place for immediate response to emergencies.

The police unit at the communal level will be supported with motorcycles and firefighting equipment to ensure the "4 on the spot" principle.

All chemical facilities will be relocated from their current locations to industrial parks.

Between now and 2030, Ha Noi authorities will install more than 3,000 public water hydrants and lay water pipes in nearly 9,500 narrow streets and alleys (200 meters in length).

The city will also build more than 430 new water tanks and pumps in public areas, four water docks, and about 900 wells in fire-prone neighborhoods.

The city is home to about 10 million people. There are nearly 160,000 buildings and structures in the city, including more than 8,200 facilities that are at high risk of fire. Ha Noi has one international airport, eight river ports, 10 industrial and hi-tech parks, 70 small industrial and handicraft clusters, and more than 500 handicraft villages classified as high risk of fire and explosion.

Between 2014 and 2023, there were more than 4,400 fires and 18 explosions in the city, as well as more than 8,000 minor incidents related to misuse of electricity and waste collection.

There were several critical fire incidents that killed dozens of people and injured many others./.