The TP HCM Police's Firefighting and Rescue Command Information Center began operations on the morning of 5/8. Spanning 180 square meters, the facility features 138 vehicle tracking devices, 53 computers, and a central screen system measuring nearly 500 inches.

Police monitor computer screens at the center to manage situations and guide firefighting vehicles and personnel on site. Photo: Dinh Van.

The operational process begins when the center receives signals from automatic fire alarm systems or citizen reports. Duty officers use a digital map to precisely locate the incident, then notify the nearest Fire Police team to dispatch firefighting and rescue forces and monitor the scene.

The digital map offers crucial functions, including identifying the shortest routes and locating water sources near fires, supporting on-site personnel. The system also automatically shares information with health and electricity sectors to ensure coordinated emergency responses.

The center's launch reduces processing and coordination times, a critical improvement given TP HCM's thousands of narrow alleys and areas difficult for fire trucks to access. According to the TP HCM People's Committee, wards and communes like Tan Dong Hiep, Tan Thuan, Cau Kieu, Tan Son Nhat, and Hoc Mon each contain 300 to 680 routes and alleys that pose access challenges for fire vehicles.

Firefighting forces extinguish a yacht fire on the Saigon River in early 2026. Photo: Thanh Tung.

Colonel Tran Hong Minh, Deputy Director of TP HCM Police, highlighted that the center represents a crucial shift from manual fire report reception to digital operations. This system accurately locates fire points and guides fire trucks along optimal routes, proving effective in large urban areas like TP HCM with its many narrow alleys. This capability allows forces to maximize the "golden five minutes" for firefighting and rescue deployment.

Furthermore, the center connects with the National Database on Firefighting and Rescue. This integration establishes a comprehensive data source vital for managing facilities and businesses, and for enhancing overall fire safety efforts.

TP HCM has faced a challenging period since early 2026, with several serious fires causing over a dozen fatalities. The most recent incident, on 11/7, involved a restaurant fire on Ngo Duc Ke Street in Binh Thanh ward, which tragically killed five people.

Dinh Van