According to Directive No. 19/CT-TTg dated June 24, 2024 of the Prime Minister on strengthening fire prevention and fighting for multi-storey houses, multi-apartment houses, individual houses combined with production and business, from January 1, localities have simultaneously launched inspections of compliance with regulations. However, there are still a large number of boarding houses and mini apartments that do not meet or cannot overcome fire prevention and fighting requirements, forced to temporarily suspend operations.
According to Lao Dong Newspaper reporters in Cau Giay, Nam Tu Liem, and Bac Tu Liem districts, most landlords have strictly implemented fire prevention regulations. However, there are still many boarding houses that do not meet the requirements for fire prevention and fighting according to Directive 19/CT-TTg.
At lane 105, Doan Ke Thien street (Mai Dich ward, Cau Giay district), on April 15, many student boarding houses and rented households were still in a state of poor fire prevention and fighting, lacking necessary equipment, commonly without a second escape route. The same situation also occurred at house number 19, 21A, lane 39, Ho Tung Mau street - where the first floor was used to store dozens of motorbikes, but the fire protection system was poorly installed, with no fireproof doors.
In Trung Hoa ward (Cau Giay district), the authorities discovered many boarding houses equipped with unsafe fire prevention and fighting. Specifically, at a facility in lane 219/16 Nguyen Ngoc Vu street, the humid parking lot contains many flammable items, the first floor is cramped, many rooms are closed, without a second escape route. The owner could not fix it, so the facility was suspended.
Statistics in Phu Do ward (Nam Tu Liem district) show that there are currently 529 boarding houses in the area, many of which were built 15-20 years ago, so they have degraded, the old structure makes it difficult to renovate fire protection. Many facilities do not meet the requirements of adding fire extinguishers to each floor, and installing fireproof doors is not feasible due to the narrow stairs and a minimum parking area of 6m2/room.
A representative of Phu Do Ward People's Committee said that they will resolutely suspend rental businesses that do not ensure fire safety, and at the same time publicize the list on mass media so that people, especially students and workers, avoid using services at violating locations.
In Cau Giay District, representatives of Mai Dich Ward People's Committee: From the beginning of the year until now, the ward has established 7 working groups, notifying 1,011 innovity and mini apartments for rent in the area and conducting re -inspection and sanctioning of 280 violations with a total amount of nearly 138 million VND. However, many establishments have not yet completed the remedy but continues to operate. Currently, the ward People's Committee has assigned the police of Mai Dich ward to complete the dossier, propose to suspend or suspend operations for 7 mini apartments and 31 boarding houses.
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper reporter, Mr. Nguyen Tu Manh - Vice Chairman of Xuan Dinh Ward People's Committee (Bac Tu Liem District) - said that the ward has established 2 inspection teams to review and make records of violations, requesting households to fix existing fire prevention and fighting problems before March 31. Through on-site inspection, the Ward People's Committee has prepared documents and temporarily suspended 30/205 boarding facilities that did not meet requirements, and sent a notice requesting self-resolution. If after 7 days, the facilities do not add the missing items, the ward will propose to cut off electricity and water according to regulations.
Mr. Manh also added that the People's Committee of the ward has sent a decision to sanction administrative violations of fire prevention and fighting to 15 establishments. In the coming time, the ward will continue to inspect, handle, temporarily suspend or suspend operations of the remaining facilities that have not met requirements.
In reality, the reason why many boarding houses and mini apartments have been suspended is due to arbitrary conversion of functions from housing to rental. The division of rooms to save costs and take advantage of limited space has led to a lack of a second escape route, not ensuring access for fire trucks, no solution to prevent the spread of fire, the fire alarm system and fire hydration water tanks are also not complete. Therefore, the forced suspension of operations is necessary to ensure fire safety, property and people's lives.
