Between December 15, 2023, and May 14, 2024, the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of HCM City Police recorded 234 fires, resulting in 10 fatalities, 4 injuries, and property damage exceeding 5 billion VND.

Concerningly, house fires persist in the city center's alleys, sparking widespread apprehension.

In the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City, hidden within narrow alleys, lie cramped sleeping quarters measuring a mere 2 square meters. These confined spaces, lacking adequate fire safety measures and escape routes, have become a growing cause for concern among residents and authorities alike.

The cramped living conditions prevalent in the city's narrow alleys, often less than 300 meters long with multiple bends, present significant challenges for firefighting efforts. Access for emergency vehicles, particularly fire trucks, is severely restricted, exacerbating the risk of fire and explosion in these densely populated areas.

Residents of these overcrowded accommodations face heightened risks in the event of a fire. With attic extensions, barred balconies, and intricate electrical systems, escape routes are often limited or obstructed, further jeopardizing residents' safety.

Ms. T emphasizes the importance of vigilance regarding fire safety. She highlights the provision of fire extinguishers in her boarding house, although many residents remain unaware of proper fire safety protocols.

Furthermore, a concerning trend of "sleep boxes" has emerged in the city, particularly favored by students seeking affordable accommodation. These compact living spaces, barely larger than 2 square meters, lack essential fire prevention equipment and are often crammed with electrical appliances, posing additional risks to residents' safety.

This box, only about 2 square meters in size and rented for less than 2 million VND/month, is where Nguyen Thi K.N (17 years old, Phan Thiet) rests and studies every night. She can only sit or lie down with her legs stretched out. Inside the sleeping box, there are sockets with a system of electrical wires hidden in plastic panels imitating wood. 'I go to school all day and only come home at night, so I just need a simple and affordable place to stay,' K.N said."

The shared kitchen is filled with household appliances for more than a dozen people living in this apartment. Nguyen N.Y (18 years old, Tay Ninh) said that most of the people living in the boarding house are students. Therefore, everyone uses a lot of electrical appliances such as rice cookers and electric stoves at the same time.

The ground floor has nearly 20 motorbikes parked on both sides of the walkway, but there is no automatic fire alarm. The entire apartment only uses a single staircase leading from the parking area to the upper floors.

At a sleeping box on Dang Thuy Tram Street (Binh Thanh District), the homeowner Tran T.N (32 years old) said that after seeing information about fires in mini apartments and rented rooms, she posted fire prevention regulations and equipped her sleeping box with additional CO2 fire extinguishers.

In response to the escalating fire risk, authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have initiated a comprehensive inspection of lodging establishments, rental houses, mini-apartments, and collective residences. The objective is to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations and mitigate the potential for future incidents.

Nguyen Hue