157 house fires reported in Ho Chi Minh City in 2025, leaving 15 dead

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Xuan Phuong, deputy head of the Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue Police Division under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security, said that many of the incidents were made more dangerous by blocked escape routes.

Balconies, loggias, and emergency exits are often sealed off with metal cages, iron bars, advertising boards or signboards, commonly referred to as ‘tiger cages,' turning homes into enclosed spaces with no viable means of escape in a fire.

To address the situation, the municipal department has rolled out four urgent measures, including creating a second emergency exit, establishing fire barriers separating parking areas and other high-risk zones from living spaces and emergency exits, equipping homes with fire prevention and firefighting devices, and minimizing damage and casualties.

Following a deadly fire on December 5, 2025 at 227 Tran Hung Dao Street in Cau Ong Lanh Ward that killed four people, the department advised the municipal People’s Committee to issue a directive strengthening fire prevention, firefighting, rescue and relief efforts, with a focus on residential properties and homes combined with production or business activities.

Task forces were mobilized to work even on weekends and public holidays, directly visiting households to raise awareness and persuade residents to dismantle metal cages and create a second escape route.

After inspecting more than 8,380 households, police detected 64 violations and imposed total fines of over VND165 million ($6,280).

So far, 1,215 homes used for both residential and business purposes have removed metal cages and opened second exits, while using outdoor advertising boards in compliance with safety regulations.

Also, nearly 1,000 houses have installed fire alarm transmission devices.

Besides, officers have provided guidance and fire safety education to 18,220 residential-business premises to ensure compliance with fire prevention requirements.

Lieutenant Colonel Phuong said police would continue to coordinate with the municipal People’s Committee to form inspection teams to review how the city’s departments, agencies and local authorities are implementing directives on strengthening fire prevention, firefighting, rescue and relief efforts.