Hanoi makes firefighting and rescuing more effective
Hanoi is stepping up efforts to improve fire prevention, suppression and rescue operations in 2025, with a comprehensive plan to be fully implemented by 2030.
City leaders have outlined key directives to boost efficiency, ensure safety and strengthen local capacity following a recent review of fire safety performance in 2024.
| Fire drill at the Royal City apartment complex. Photo: Hong Thai/The Hanoi Times |
Central and local government fire prevention plans must be properly followed by the authorities, and tangible and quantifiable improvements must be made. To improve preparedness and response capabilities, departmental and local government leaders must identify their shortcomings and take swift action to address them.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2025, the City will enforce stricter fire safety codes, including penalties for non-compliance. The Department of Justice will oversee training programs and legal guidance to ensure consistent enforcement. The development of a long-term fire safety strategy will be accelerated and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Community engagement remains a key priority, with authorities pushing for every household to be equipped with fire safety tools and all students, workers, and government employees to receive mandatory fire safety education. Emergency response teams are being strengthened with additional personnel and equipment to meet the "four on-the-spot" firefighting principle.
Beginning in early 2025, Hanoi ramped up inspections and cracked down on fire safety violations, especially unauthorized building modifications and facilities operating without proper fire safety certification.
