[Photo series] Firefighting drill at the Pegasus Plaza building in Tran Bien Ward

On the morning of August 21, the People’s Committee of Dong Nai Province organized a provincial-level firefighting and rescue drill at The Pegasus Plaza Vo Thi Sau Street, Tran Bien Ward. The exercise involved coordination among multiple forces, aiming to enhance the capacity to respond to complex fire and explosion situations.

Attending the drill were Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha, leaders of Dong Nai Provincial Public Security, Ho Chi Minh City Public Security and related departments, branches and units.

Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha, along with leaders of Dong Nai Provincial Public Security, Ho Chi Minh City Public Security and related departments, branches and units attend the drill. Photo: Dang Tung

In his opening remarks, Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, Ho Van Ha, emphasized that combined organization of the drill with the mobilization of multiple forces not only serves a mean to widely propagate and raise awareness among all social classes about fire prevention and safety measures but also aids functional forces in enhancing their operational capabilities, unifying leadership, and improving command and coordination mechanisms among sectors and levels in firefighting and search and rescue operations.

Through that, participants are expected to comply with legal regulations on fire prevention and fighting, and rescue, apply self-evacuation skills effectively, and actively engage in firefighting, rescue of people and property in fire, explosion and accident incidents when required, thereby minimizing damage to people and assets.

Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha delivers the opening speech of the exercise. Photo: Dang Tung

According to the Dong Nai Provincial Public Security, the Pegasus Plaza building has 20 floors, including 2 basements, with a total construction floor area of up to 60,000 square meters. As one of the structures with high risks of fire and explosion, it requires special attention to fire prevention and firefighting measures.

The Pegasus Plaza building's on-site fire prevention and fighting team deploys initial fire hoses. Photo: Dang Tung

According to the simulated scenario, a major fire suddenly broke out on the B2 basement level of the building. The cause was identified as an electrical short circuit from a car, causing the flames to rapidly spread over an area of more than 600 square meters. Thick, toxic smoke engulfed the area, posing serious danger to many people trapped inside.

Fire trucks arrived promptly at the scene of the simulated fire. Photo: Dang Tung

Immediately upon detecting the incident, the building’s on-site fire prevention and firefighting team swiftly implemented initial measures, including cutting off electricity, using fire extinguishers, and simultaneously alerting the Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue Police Department under Dong Nai Provincial Public Security. Authorities mobilized police officers and soldiers, along with nearly 100 personnel from coordinated forces, fire prevention and fighting at the facility, medical teams, and the Red Cross, to the scene for firefighting and rescue operations.

Many specialized and modern vehicles were also deployed during the drill. Fire trucks, ladder trucks, and firefighting robots quickly approached the scene to deploy plans to extinguish the fire and rescue people. After approximately 30 minutes, the simulated fire was extinguished.

Firefighters deploy an “inclined rope bridge” to rescue injured victims from the upper floors. Photo: Dang Tung

Rescue teams use a 52-meter ladder truck to carry victims out of the simulated fire scene. Photo: Dang Tung

Mobile Police force bring sniffer dogs to the scene to search for victims. Photo: Dang Tung

Multiple fire trucks and rescue vehicles simultaneously carry out firefighting and rescue operations. Photo: Dang Tung

Firefighting robot - a modern vehicle of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police force deployed to extinguish fires. Photo: Dang Tung

Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha and leaders of Dong Nai Provincial Public Security present flowers to the forces participating in the exercise. Photo: Dang Tung

Colonel Tran Anh Son, Deputy Director of Dong Nai Provincial Public Security, requests departments, branches and sectors to regularly promote the role and responsibility of leaders in fire prevention work. Photo: Dang Tung

Speaking at the drill, Colonel Tran Anh Son, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Provincial Public Security, highlighted the significance of fire prevention and firefighting. He also urged departments, branches, and sectors, along with the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police force across the province, to consistently uphold their leadership roles and responsibilities in fire prevention and firefighting efforts.

Simultaneously, the Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue Police Department under the Dong Nai Provincial Police must review, supplement, and enhance practice of firefighting and rescue plans at facilities, key projects, and residential areas highly prone to fire and explosion risks. The facility's fire prevention and fighting system should be utilized comprehensively and effectively. In particular, it is essential to regularly organize firefighting and rescue drills with the involvement of multiple forces.

By: Dang Tung

Translated by: Huyen Trang-Thu Ha