Permanent Member of the Party Secretariat Trần Cẩm Tú addresses the review conference on fire safety in Hà Nội on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Phương Hoa

HÀ NỘI — Permanent Member of the Party Secretariat Trần Cẩm Tú said that fire prevention and firefighting are a regular responsibility of the entire political system, as he addressed a national conference in Hà Nội on Thursday.

The event was held to review the implementation of the Party Secretariat’s directives on fire safety in the new era.

Issued on June 25, 2015, Directive 47-CT/TW marked the first time the Party Secretariat had released a directive dedicated to fire prevention, firefighting and fire rescue and relief work.

State management in this field was strengthened between 2015 and 2025, contributing to stronger prevention efforts and raising accountability among ministries and localities.

According to a report presented at the conference, inspections conducted by the Ministry of Public Security and provincial authorities led to more than 205,000 administrative violation records. Nearly 14,500 facilities were temporarily suspended, while more than 12,700 were permanently closed.

Authorities also prosecuted 177 criminal cases involving 117 defendants for violations related to fire safety.

Over the past 10 years, firefighting and rescue officers directly handled nearly 29,700 fires and almost 12,000 rescue incidents, while local on-site forces extinguished more than 12,500 fires and handled over 1,300 rescue operations.

However, officials acknowledged that fire and explosion risks remain complex, particularly in homes combined with business premises and in crowded facilities.

Over the past decade, Việt Nam recorded 430 major fires causing 778 deaths and 500 injuries, along with 381 fires causing serious property losses estimated at more than VNĐ10 trillion (US$380 million).

At the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Lê Tiến Châu also outlined key contents of Directive 02-CT/TW issued by the Party Secretariat in January, which introduces updated approaches to fire prevention, firefighting and rescue.

The directive clearly defines the responsibilities of Party committees, local authorities, agencies and organisations, while emphasising the exemplary role of officials, Party members and citizens.

In addition to improving public education and integrating fire safety and rescue knowledge into school curricula, it also calls for stronger State management and stricter inspections and penalties for violations, as well as greater application of science, technology and digital transformation in fire safety.

The conference was held in a hybrid format, with the participation of central and local officials. — VNA/VNS Photo Phương Hoa

Addressing the conference, Tú noted that over the past decade, fire prevention, firefighting, rescue and relief units have upheld their core role as a reliable force for the Party, State and people in protecting lives and property and maintaining social order and safety.

He pointed out that existing shortcomings and limitations are mainly due to inadequate awareness and sense of responsibility among some Party committees and local authorities, particularly at the grassroots level.

Tú stressed the need to conduct thorough reviews and assessments to address these shortcomings, with the ultimate goal of ensuring safety for both people and property, thus contributing to national security, social order and sustainable socio-economic development.

He also noted the importance of raising awareness and clearly defining the responsibilities of local leaders in fire prevention, firefighting, rescue and relief work.

“This is a foundational factor decisive for the effectiveness of implementing tasks and solutions in practice. It is both an urgent and long-term priority task that requires persistence, determination and strong resolve, demanding close and coordinated participation of all levels, sectors, specialised forces and the public,” he said.

Noting that the Government’s action programme on fire safety had assigned specific tasks to ministries and sectors, Tú urged all relevant agencies to promptly implement them according to schedule.

Regarding the leading role of specialised forces, he called for the development of a truly professional and modern fire prevention, firefighting, rescue and relief force.

He also stressed the need to prioritise investment in facilities, equipment and vehicles, and to accelerate the application of modern science and technology to improve operational efficiency, describing it as an urgent and top priority task of the entire political system. — VNS