Hundreds join fire drill at Ho Chi Minh City-based power company

The exercise at Phu My 1 Industrial Park was led by Colonel Tran Van Hieu, head of the city’s fire prevention, fighting and rescue police division.

The drill simulated a severe thunderstorm scenario in which lightning struck distillate fuel storage tank No. 2 within a cluster of five tanks at the firm.

With the grounding system temporarily under maintenance, it failed to function, allowing the lightning strike to ignite a volatile mixture of oil vapor and air inside the tank, triggering an explosion.

Several workers suffered gas inhalation and lost consciousness.

In response, the company swiftly reported the incident to authorities and requested emergency support.

In addition, it activated its internal emergency protocols, evacuating personnel from the danger zone and deploying its specialized firefighting unit to contain the situation.

After being notified of the fire, the firefighting, prevention and rescue police division mobilized a coordinated response under the direction of the leadership of the municipal department.

Multiple forces, including traffic police, mobile police units, local ward police, and industrial zone security teams were dispatched to the scene.

Once on site, the units worked in close coordination, deploying equipment and tactics in a synchronized effort.

The simulated fire was fully extinguished, while victims were safely evacuated, and the area was cleared and environmentally secured.

Operations at the company were quickly restored to normal conditions.

The drill closely mirrored real-life conditions, and highlighted leadership coordination, inter-agency cooperation, and the operational readiness of specialized units.

Particularly, the communication system, which transmits fire alerts to the command center, operated smoothly, contributing to more effective incident response.

As a key national infrastructure facility, Phu My Thermal Power Company plays a vital role in ensuring Vietnam’s energy security.

The drill served to evaluate fire safety measures, command capabilities, and the mobilization of personnel and resources.

It also aimed to strengthen preparedness and improve rapid, effective responses to fire and explosion incidents, thereby minimizing potential losses to human life, property, and the environment.