US$1 billion needed to upgrade Hanoi's fire services

The Hanoi People's Committee plans to spend VND26.3 trillion (more than US$1 billion) to improve the capital's fire prevention capacity in 2025-2030.

The fire in Cau Giay District killed 14 people in late May. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

From now until the end of 2025, the capital is expected to lay out some VND10.6 trillion ($416.5 million) to ensure firefighting standards for all buildings, renovate fire stations and build new hydrants, pumps and tanks on streets and in local residential areas, with a further VND15.7 trillion ($617 million) to be spent on such activities in 2026-2030.

By 2030, Hanoi expects to install more than 3,000 public water hydrants, lay more water pipes for nearly 9,500 small, 200-meter-wide alleys, and build more than 1,330 water tanks, pools and water pumps for public and residential areas.

The plan will be discussed at the mid-year meeting of the city's People's Council on July 1-5.

In 2014-2023, about 4,500 major fires and explosions and 8,000 minor incidents occurred in Hanoi. In 2023-2024, several critical fires erupted in the city, killing dozens of people.

Fifty-six people were killed in a tenement fire in Thanh Xuan District in September 2023. At the end of May, 14 people were killed when a house for lease caught fire in Cau Giay District.

A fire raged through a private home in Hoang Mai district late on June 16, killing four people.

According to the Hanoi Department of Public Security, the capital needs more than 10,000 fire hydrants and more than 2,500 water tanks and pools for firefighting.

There are nearly 2,200 buildings that do not meet fire safety standards. Many of these are tenement and apartment buildings.