HÀ NỘI –– The Hà Nội Fire Prevention and Fighting Department (HFPFD) will inspect fire extinguisher systems in high-rise apartment buildings four times per year instead of once a year.

The information was released at a meeting held by the Hà Nội Publicity and Education Committee earlier this week.

The firefighting police will also conduct unplanned inspections to ensure fire distinguisher systems in these apartments are operating without any problems.

In addition, training courses will be held instructing residents on how to prevent and fight fires and to follow rescue procedures in case a fire breaks out.

Some 61 fires, one gas explosion and 275 fire-related incidents have occurred in the city since the start of 2016, killing at least four people and injuring 14. Three hectares of forest land have been destroyed, and estimated damages from fires were more than VNĐ7 billion (US$330,000), according to the HFPFD.

The firefighting police have also dispatched 750 fire engines to put out fires in the city and surrounding areas. Five people have been rescued so far this year.

Following the inspection of nearly 6,200 units, the authorities fined some 1,000 organisations and individuals nearly VNĐ1.3 billion ($57,800) for violating regulations on fire prevention and firefighting.

Besides this, some 170 rehearsals and 620 training courses on fire prevention and firefighting have been held.

In January, an additional 500 water supply stations were installed across the city to fight fires.

The main areas included crowded residential areas, trade centres, open markets and the inner districts, including Ba Đình, Hoàn Kiếm, Đống Đa and Hai Bà Trưng, as well as Thanh Xuân, Tây Hồ and Hoàng Mai.

The Hà Nội People’s Committee recently approved a master plan for infrastructure and human resources to prevent and fight fires for the 2016-2025 period, towards 2030.

According to the plan, by 2030, the total number of firefighting officers in the city is expected to be 6,500, and 58 more firefighting locations will be established on 285,000sq.m. of land.

The plan also includes the purchase of two aircraft for assistance with firefighting and rescue missions.

However, HFPFD Director Hoàng Quốc Định was quoted on soha.vn that the purchase would be done during phase 3 of the project, which runs from 2026 to 2030.

The total investment for the plan is VNĐ11.5 trillion ($511 million). –– VNS