Circular No. 140/2020/TT-BCA on organizing and implementing firefighting and rescue activities of the People's Police force

CIRCULAR

Provisions on the implementation of firefighting and rescue activities

of forces the People's Public Security Force

Pursuant to the Law on People's Police dated November 20, 2018;

Pursuant to the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting dated June 29, 2001; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting dated November 22, 2013;

Pursuant to Decree No. 01/2018/NĐ-CP dated August 6, 2018 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Public Security;

Pursuant to Decree No. 136/2020/NĐ-CP dated November 24, 2020 of the Government detailing certain provisions and measures for implementing the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting;

Grounds: Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2017, of the Government on rescue operations of the firefighting and rescue force;

Pursuant to the proposal of the Director of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Department;

The Minister of Public Security issues this Circular providing for the implementation of firefighting and rescue activities by the People's Public Security Forces.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of application

This Circular stipulates principles, procedures for firefighting and rescue activities and ensuring support for firefighting and rescue activities; command and control of firefighting and rescue activities by the People's Public Security Forces.

Article 2Principles in firefighting and rescue activities

1. Compliance with laws on fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue, this Circular, and other relevant legal regulations.

2. Receiving information about fires, incidents, accidents and deploying firefighting and rescue activities must be handled promptly and timely, ensuring mobility and unity in command and control.

3. Prioritize rescuing victims first; ensure safety for people and equipment participating in firefighting and rescue activities; minimize casualties and property damage to the lowest extent possible.

4. When mobilizing forces and equipment to fight fires and rescue, mobilize units closest to the location of the fire, incident, or accident first, then proceed to units further away.

5. Strictly prohibit taking advantage of assigned tasks in firefighting and rescue activities to harass, cause inconvenience, or infringe upon the interests of the State, lawful rights and interests of organizations and individuals.

Article 3ANNEX

Attached to this Circular is an Annex containing forms used in firefighting and rescue work, including:

1. Logbook for receiving information about fires, incidents, and accidents (Form No. 01).

2. Order for mobilizing forces and equipment to fight fires and rescue (Form No. 02).

Local public security units have the responsibility to uniformly use these forms on A4 size paper either pre-printed or electronic format without altering their contents.

Chapter II

PROCEDURES FOR FIREFIGHTING AND RESCUE ACTIVITIES AND ENSURING SUPPORT FOR FIREFIGHTING AND RESCUE ACTIVITIES

Section 1

PROCEDURES FOR FIREFIGHTING AND RESCUE ACTIVITIES

Article 4. Receiving Information About Fires, Incidents, and Accidents

1. Units responsible for receiving and processing information about fires, incidents, and accidents include: Command and Control Center 114; units responsible for receiving and processing information at the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Departments and Public Security Departments of districts, cities, towns, and provincial capitals (hereinafter referred to as district-level Public Security Departments).

2. Information about fires, incidents, and accidents is received through: telephone number 114; telephone numbers of Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police units; the fire prevention, firefighting, and emergency communication system; or directly reported by citizens.

3. Contents of information about fires, incidents, and accidents to be received:

a) Name, phone number, or address of the person reporting the fire, incident, or accident;

b) Address, time of occurrence of the fire, incident, or accident;

c) Type of fire, incident, or accident; scale of the fire, incident, or accident; number and condition of people trapped in the fire, incident, or accident; risk of fire spread and other related information about the fire, incident, or accident.

Article 5. Processing Information About Fires, Incidents, and Accidents

1. Staff and soldiers on duty at Command and Control Center 114 when receiving information about fires, incidents, and accidents shall comply with the following regulations:

a) Clearly identify the address where the fire, incident, or accident occurred and quickly issue an alarm to deploy firefighting and rescue activities;

b) Report to the direct commander of the unit, receive and convey orders to mobilize forces and equipment for firefighting and rescue activities from the unit commander to relevant departments;

c) Transfer tactical firefighting sheets to the unit going to fight fires and rescue (when the unit performing firefighting and rescue tasks is located together with the Command and Control Center 114).

2. Staff and soldiers on duty at units responsible for receiving and processing information at Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Departments and district-level Public Security Departments when receiving information about fires, incidents, and accidents shall comply with the following regulations:

a) Clearly identify the address where the fire, incident, or accident occurred (if receiving information directly) and quickly issue an alarm to deploy firefighting and rescue activities;

b) Report to the direct commander of the unit, receive and convey orders to mobilize forces and equipment for firefighting and rescue activities from the unit commander to relevant departments;

c) Transfer tactical firefighting sheets to the person assigned to command firefighting and rescue activities (hereinafter referred to as the unit commander going to fight fires and rescue).

3. Tasks of staff and soldiers on duty at units responsible for receiving and processing information about fires, incidents, and accidents after mobilizing the unit's forces and equipment for firefighting and rescue activities:

a) Verify the authenticity of the received information, update new information related to the fire, incident, or accident, and promptly inform the forces arriving at the scene; simultaneously report and receive orders from the direct commander of the unit;

b) Notify the following agencies and organizations: health authorities to provide medical assistance to victims (if any); power supply authorities to cut off electricity at the location of the fire, incident, or accident; water supply units to support firefighting (if any); district-level Public Security Departments, village, town, and city Public Security Departments (hereinafter referred to as village-level Public Security Departments) where the fire, incident, or accident occurred and related units to participate in firefighting and rescue activities, ensuring security, order, traffic regulation, protection of the scene, and investigation of the cause of the fire, incident, or accident; other agencies and units responsible for participating and supporting firefighting and rescue activities according to plans approved by competent authorities upon orders from the commander (hereinafter referred to as the commander);

c) Fully record the received information in the logbook for receiving information about fires, incidents, and accidents according to Form No. 01 attached to this Circular; compile the situation and transfer it to the unit's duty room to report the incident information to higher authorities as prescribed.

d) Report to the Command Information Center 114 in the case where the information reception and processing unit of the Fire Prevention, Fighting, Search and Rescue Teams under the Department of Police and the County Police directly receives fire, accident, or incident information.

4. In cases where fire, accident, or incident information does not fall within the assigned area for firefighting and search and rescue tasks, the officers and soldiers on duty at the information reception and processing unit must promptly inform the unit responsible for firefighting and search and rescue tasks about the received information so that they can perform their firefighting and search and rescue duties; simultaneously, report to their unit's command to mobilize forces and equipment to extinguish fires and conduct search and rescue operations if the distance from the location of the fire, accident, or incident to their unit is shorter than the unit assigned the firefighting and search and rescue task, or be ready to participate in firefighting and search and rescue operations upon request for support.

 Article 6. Mobilization and Deployment of Forces and Equipment for Firefighting and Search and Rescue Operations

1. After receiving fire, accident, or incident information within the assigned area for firefighting and search and rescue tasks, the unit’s on-duty commander must quickly assess the fire, accident, or incident situation and immediately issue orders to mobilize the unit's forces and equipment for firefighting and search and rescue operations, ensuring prompt and timely handling of the situation, but not less than two firefighting and search and rescue mechanical vehicles. The mobilization order may be verbal but must be documented in writing according to Model No. 02 stipulated in the Appendix issued together with this Circular immediately after the completion of firefighting and search and rescue operations.

2. In cases where fire, accident, or incident information is received from outside the assigned area for firefighting and search and rescue tasks, if the distance from the location of the fire, accident, or incident to the unit receiving the information is shorter than the unit assigned the firefighting and search and rescue task, then the unit’s on-duty commander must immediately mobilize the unit's forces and equipment for firefighting and search and rescue operations, while reporting to the immediate superior command.

3. If it is deemed necessary to mobilize and deploy forces and equipment from other agencies, organizations, and units to participate in firefighting and search and rescue operations, the unit’s on-duty commander must immediately report to the competent authority to implement according to regulations.

4. When en route to the location of the fire, accident, or incident, the commander of the unit mobilized and deployed for firefighting and search and rescue operations has the responsibility to:

a) Maintain continuous communication with the unit's information reception and processing department and the Command Information Center 114 to update information and the development of the fire, accident, or incident;

b) When encountering difficulties or obstacles, the commander of the unit mobilized and deployed for firefighting and search and rescue operations must promptly report to the immediate superior command for guidance and resolution; at the same time, find ways to overcome difficulties and obstacles to safely and quickly bring forces and equipment to the location of the fire, accident, or incident;

c) When encountering another fire or incident, the commander of the unit mobilized and deployed for firefighting and search and rescue operations may, based on the nature and severity of the incident, decide to leave part of the forces and equipment to carry out firefighting and search and rescue tasks but must report to the immediate superior command or notify the unit's information reception and processing department to mobilize additional forces and equipment for firefighting and search and rescue operations;

d) Upon receiving information that the fire has been extinguished or the accident or incident has been resolved from the officers and soldiers on duty at the Command Information Center 114 or the unit's information reception and processing department, the commander of the unit mobilized and deployed for firefighting and search and rescue operations must report to the immediate superior command and continue to dispatch appropriate forces and equipment to the scene to gather information about the incident according to regulations.

Article 7. Investigation of Fires and Incidents

1. Upon arrival at the location of the fire, accident, or incident, if the development of the fire, accident, or incident is not complex, the commander may directly observe to determine appropriate firefighting and search and rescue measures, tactics, and techniques.

If the commander deems the fire, accident, or incident to have a complex development, he must establish an investigation team consisting of at least three officers and soldiers to organize the investigation of the fire, accident, or incident. When multiple directions or areas need to be investigated, the commander should establish multiple investigation teams to grasp the situation.

If necessary, the commander may request individuals familiar with the situation in the area of the fire, accident, or incident to assist the investigation team in performing their duties.

2. Tasks of the investigation:

a) Investigation of the fire: Determine whether there are victims in the fire; the number, location, and condition of the victims; methods and possibilities for rescuing victims; dangerous factors from the fire that could threaten the lives and health of the victims as well as the firefighting and search and rescue forces; main combustible materials, fire spread risks, and potential development of the fire; locations and areas where forces and equipment need to be deployed to save people and property, prevent fire spread; the ability to use existing firefighting equipment at the site to serve firefighting and available water sources for firefighting; relevant evidence related to the fire (if any) to assist in determining the cause of the fire;

b) Investigating emergencies and accidents: Clearly determine the number, location, and condition of victims, means of transport, and property threatened by dangerous factors; entry and exit routes to the site of the emergency or accident; dangerous factors that may endanger the lives and health of victims as well as rescue forces; suitable locations for deploying rescue equipment and devices; rescue measures and safety guarantees during the execution of tasks; relevant evidence and traces related to the emergency or accident (if any) to serve the determination of the cause of the emergency or accident.

3. Based on the situation and development of the fire, emergency, or accident, and the available firefighting and rescue forces and means, the commander may simultaneously decide on organizing reconnaissance and deploying forces and means to rescue people and property, control and extinguish the fire.

4. The organization of fire reconnaissance must be carried out continuously from the moment of arrival at the scene of the fire, emergency, or accident until the completion of firefighting and rescue tasks.

5. Personnel performing reconnaissance tasks must be familiar with and fully implement the contents of fire reconnaissance as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article; they must carry personal protective equipment and specialized devices; promptly deploy emergency measures to rescue people and property, control, and extinguish fires if conditions permit; report the results of their tasks throughout the reconnaissance process to the commander.

Article 8Deployment of firefighting and rescue operations

1. Deployment of firefighting and rescue operations at the fire scene:

a) After thoroughly understanding the situation and development of the fire, the commander must quickly deploy forces and means to predetermined positions to rescue victims (if any), control, and extinguish the fire;

b) The deployment of firefighting and rescue forces and means must ensure: Maximizing the capabilities and effects of the means; concentrating rapidly on the main attack direction and other necessary areas; having high mobility to avoid being surrounded by flames and not affecting the operation of firefighting and rescue means;

c) Based on the actual situation and development of the fire, the commander decides to apply appropriate firefighting methods, tactics, and techniques to rescue victims and property, and demolish building components.

2. Deployment of rescue operations at the site of emergencies and accidents:

a) In cases where reconnaissance and deployment of forces and means to rescue people and property are organized simultaneously, the commander must quickly deploy rescue formations and equipment to predetermined positions; decide on methods and measures to quickly remove people and means of transport from dangerous areas;

b) Based on the situation and development of the emergency or accident, the commander decides on the application of appropriate rescue methods, measures, tactics, and techniques. If there are many victims who cannot be simultaneously removed from danger, the commander must base the decision on the health status, age, gender of each victim, characteristics of the accident site, and the condition and capacity of rescue equipment to determine the priority order of rescue.

3. Personnel performing firefighting and rescue tasks have the responsibility to deploy firefighting and rescue equipment and tools to positions according to the commander's orders and tactical intentions; implement measures to rescue people and property, prevent the spread of fire, control, and extinguish the fire; strictly adhere to safety measures during the execution of tasks.

Article 9Termination of firefighting and rescue operations

1. After the fire has been extinguished or the emergency or accident has been handled, the commander of firefighting and rescue operations has the responsibility:

a) To organize a re-inspection of the fire scene before deciding to terminate firefighting and rescue activities;

b) To immediately report the situation and results of organizing firefighting and rescue operations to the direct superior commander;

c) To organize the handover of rescued victims and recovered property (if any);

d) To assign personnel to participate in protecting, inspecting, and investigating the cause of the fire, emergency, or accident according to regulations;

đ) To decide to terminate firefighting and rescue activities, order units to organize headcounts, recover equipment, and return to standby units ready for firefighting and rescue operations.

2. Upon returning to the unit, the commander of the firefighting and rescue unit has the responsibility: To organize inspections of the operational status of firefighting and rescue equipment; replenish fuel and firefighting agents; maintain and repair damaged firefighting and rescue equipment to put them back into standby readiness for firefighting and rescue operations.

3. Organize a debriefing meeting on the fire, emergency, or accident:

          a) Based on the nature and complexity of the fire, emergency, or accident, a debriefing meeting must be organized within 12 working days and a record made according to regulations;

          b) Within three days after the conclusion of the debriefing meeting, a report must be submitted to the higher management authority according to regulations.

Section 2

Ensuring Support for Firefighting and Rescue Operations

Article 10Communication in Firefighting and Rescue Operations

1. Communication services for command and control of firefighting and rescue operations at the scene must ensure smooth communication with the following units, departments, and areas:

a) Units directly performing firefighting and rescue tasks; units participating in supporting firefighting and rescue operations and ensuring security and order in the area where the fire, emergency, or accident occurred;

b) Areas for firefighting and rescue operations;

c) The Command and Control Center 114; the unit responsible for receiving and processing fire, incident, and accident information of the teams under the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Department and the Public Security at the county level.

2. Officers and soldiers assigned to communication tasks shall be responsible for accurately and promptly conveying orders from commanders to the commanders of participating firefighting and rescue units; compiling, monitoring, and reporting on the results of the units' performance to the commander.

Article 11. Ensuring logistics and medical support for firefighting and rescue operations

1. Logistics support for firefighting and rescue operations includes:

a) Fuel, materials, firefighting agents, firefighting and rescue equipment;

b) Uniforms, personal protective equipment, essential supplies for officers and soldiers throughout the firefighting and rescue process.

2. Medical support for firefighting and rescue operations includes:

a) Medicines and necessary medical supplies;

b) Timely first aid for victims;

c) Health care for officers and soldiers during the firefighting and rescue process.

Article 12. Ensuring security and order at the location where fire, incidents, accidents occur

1. The Public Security at the county level where the fire, incident, or accident occurs shall be responsible for organizing security and order, traffic regulation around the affected area, and protecting the scene immediately after firefighting and rescue operations conclude.

2. The Public Security at the commune level where the fire, incident, or accident occurs shall be responsible for participating in ensuring security and order in the affected area; protecting the scene of the fire, incident, or accident.

3. Other Public Security units shall be responsible for participating in ensuring security and order, traffic regulation around the affected area, and supporting firefighting and rescue operations when requested.

Chapter III

COMMAND OF FIREFIGHTING AND RESCUE OPERATIONS

Article 13. The personin charge of firefighting and rescue operations within the People's Public Security

1. The persons in charge of firefighting and rescue operations within the People's Public Security are those holding the following positions:

a) Director, Deputy Director of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Bureau;

b) Director, Deputy Director of the Public Security at the provincial level (hereinafter referred to as the Provincial Public Security);

c) Head, Deputy Head of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Department;

d) Chief, Deputy Chief of the Public Security at the county level (where there is a Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Team directly subordinate);

đ) Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader of the Firefighting and Rescue Operations Team; Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader of the Area Firefighting and Rescue Team; Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader of the River Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Team under the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Department;

e) Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Team under the Public Security at the county level.

2. Authority to command firefighting and rescue operations:

a) The Director, Deputy Director of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Bureau shall command firefighting and rescue operations involving fires, incidents, and accidents mobilizing and deploying firefighting and rescue forces and equipment from two or more provincial public securities together;

b) The Director, Deputy Director of the Public Security at the provincial level shall command firefighting and rescue operations involving fires, incidents, and accidents mobilizing forces and equipment from the Public Security at the county level and the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Department together;

c) The Head, Deputy Head of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Department shall command firefighting and rescue operations involving fires, incidents, and accidents mobilizing and deploying forces and equipment from subordinate units and the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Team under the Public Security at the county level together;

d) The Chief, Deputy Chief of the Public Security at the county level shall command firefighting and rescue operations involving fires, incidents, and accidents occurring within their jurisdiction, mobilizing and deploying an additional Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Team from another county-level Public Security or an Area Firefighting and Rescue Team from the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Department together;

đ) The Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader of the Firefighting and Rescue Operations Team; the Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader of the Area Firefighting and Rescue Team; the Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader of the River Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Team under the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Department shall command firefighting and rescue operations within their jurisdiction where there is participation of a Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Team from the Public Security at the county level;

e) The Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Team under the Public Security at the county level shall command firefighting and rescue operations within their jurisdiction where there is participation of a Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue, and Relief Police Team from another county-level Public Security.

3. When a commander with higher authority as specified in Clause 2 of this Article is present at the location of the fire, incident, or accident, the current commander must report the situation, development of the fire, incident, or accident, implementation results, and transfer command authority for firefighting and rescue operations to the commander with higher authority.

Article 14. Tasks of person the commander of firefighting and rescue operations

1. Perform the tasks specified in Clause 1, Article 22 of Decree No. 136/2020/NĐ-CP dated November 24, 2020 of the Government detailing certain provisions and implementing measures of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting, and Article 17 of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2017 of the Government regarding rescue and firefighting operations of fire prevention and fighting forces (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP).

2. Decide to establish the command board and the firefighting and rescue advisory board pursuant to Articles 16 and 17 of this Circular to serve the command and control of firefighting and rescue activities.

3. Decide on the main offensive direction and deployment of forces and equipment for firefighting and rescue activities; steps to implement firefighting techniques, tactics, and rescue measures.

4. Divide the firefighting and rescue zones; designate and assign tasks to commanders of firefighting and rescue zones.

5. Organize the implementation of measures to ensure safety for firefighting and rescue forces and equipment.

6. Organize the provision of conditions to support firefighting and rescue operations.

7. Regularly compile the situation and results of organizing firefighting and rescue operations to report promptly to superiors as prescribed.

8. Provide information to the media about the situation and results of firefighting and rescue operations as prescribed.

Article 159. Delegate authority for firefighting and rescue command

1. A commander with higher authority may delegate to a commander performing the task to continue commanding firefighting and rescue operations but still bear responsibility for the results of firefighting and rescue operations.

2. In cases where it is necessary to leave the scene of a fire, accident, or incident to perform other tasks at the request of a competent authority, the commander performing the task must transfer command responsibilities for firefighting and rescue operations to a commander with one level lower authority as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 13 of this Circular and must notify the unit's information reception and processing department.

Article 1610. Establishment ba) Managing, using, and operating technical equipment in accordance with Articles 10, 11, and 12 of Decree No. 135/2021/NĐ-CP dated December 31, 2021, issued by the Government, stipulating the list, management, and use of technical equipment, and the procedures for collecting and using data obtained from technical equipment provided by individuals or organizations for detecting administrative violations (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 135/2021/NĐ-CP); specialized agency under the People's Committee of the province/city.11. Command Board for Firefighting and Rescue Operations

1. The command board for firefighting and rescue operations shall be established in cases of large and complex fires, incidents, or accidents directly commanded by persons holding positions as specified in Points a and b, Clause 1, Article 13 of this Circular.

2. The composition of the command board for firefighting and rescue operations includes:

a) The head of the board is a person holding a position as specified in Point a or b, Clause 1, Article 13 of this Circular;

b) The deputy head of the board is a person holding a position as specified in Point b or c, Clause 1, Article 13 of this Circular of the location where the fire, incident, or accident occurred; the police chief managing the area where the fire, incident, or accident occurred;

c) Members are heads of departments and equivalent units under the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Bureau and units of the police mobilized to participate in firefighting and rescue operations.

3. If deemed necessary, the commander of the People's Public Security Force may request the commander of the Military Forces or the commander specified in Clause 2, Article 37 of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting and Clause 2, Article 16 of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP to join the command board for firefighting and rescue operations.

4. Deputy heads and members of the command board for firefighting and rescue operations shall perform their duties according to the division of labor by the head and shall be responsible to the head for the results of the assigned tasks.

5. The command board for firefighting and rescue operations shall automatically dissolve after completing firefighting and rescue tasks.

Article 1710. Establishment ba) Managing, using, and operating technical equipment in accordance with Articles 10, 11, and 12 of Decree No. 135/2021/NĐ-CP dated December 31, 2021, issued by the Government, stipulating the list, management, and use of technical equipment, and the procedures for collecting and using data obtained from technical equipment provided by individuals or organizations for detecting administrative violations (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 135/2021/NĐ-CP); organize credit institutions, foreign bank branches are responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular.12. Advisory Board for Firefighting and Rescue Operations 1. The commander specified in Points a and b, Clause 1, Article 13 of this Circular decides to establish the advisory board for firefighting and rescue operations to assist the command board in directing firefighting and rescue activities.

2. The composition of the advisory board for firefighting and rescue operations includes:

a) The head of the board is a head of a specialized unit under the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Bureau or a head of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Department;

b) The deputy head of the board is a head of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Department in the locality where the fire, incident, or accident occurred; a head of the Logistics and Technical Unit under the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Bureau; a head of the police managing the area where the fire, incident, or accident occurred;

c) Members are heads and officers of specialized units under the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Bureau; officers responsible for managing the area and premises where the fire, incident, or accident occurred; persons with deep expertise in firefighting and rescue operations; heads of specialized units under the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Department; officers responsible for logistics, political work, traffic, and public order in the local police force designated by the commander.

3. If deemed necessary, the commander of the People's Public Security Force may request the assistant to the commander of the Military Forces; the assistant to the commander specified in Clause 2, Article 37 of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting and Clause 2, Article 16 of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP; representatives from the premises or persons responsible for safety and technical work in the area or premises where the fire, incident, or accident occurred to join the advisory board for firefighting and rescue operations.

4. Deputy heads and members of the advisory board for firefighting and rescue operations shall perform their duties according to the division of labor by the head and shall be responsible to the head for the results of the assigned tasks.

5. Tasks of the advisory board for firefighting and rescue operations:

a) Receive and assign tasks to units arriving to participate in firefighting and rescue operations according to the requirements of the firefighting and rescue commander; implement orders of the firefighting and rescue commander to firefighting and rescue zones.

a) Receive and assign tasks to units participating in firefighting and rescue operations according to the requirements of the firefighting and rescue command; implement the orders of the firefighting and rescue command in the firefighting and rescue areas;

b) Organize fire surveillance work and accidents; regularly compile information from surveillance to promptly report to the firefighting and rescue command;

c) Compile all information on the development of fires, accidents, and the implementation of tasks by participating firefighting forces and rescue teams; calculate, develop plans and detailed implementation schemes to promptly report to the firefighting and rescue command for consideration and decision-making;

d) Organize communication during firefighting and rescue operations to ensure coordination among participating units;

đ) Organize后勤保障和医疗服务，以支持灭火和救援工作；

e) Supervise and control the situation of task implementation, safety conditions for personnel and equipment participating in firefighting and rescue operations, and report to the firefighting and rescue command;

g) Perform other tasks assigned by the commander;

6. The firefighting and rescue advisory board shall be dissolved automatically upon completion of firefighting and rescue tasks;

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 18. Effective date

1. This Circular takes effect from February 8, 2021;

2. This Circular replaces the following Circulars:

a) Circular No. 39/2016/TT-BCA dated October 4, 2016, stipulating the procedures for receiving and handling fire reports and deploying firefighting activities by the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Force;

b) Circular No. 20/2014/TT-BCA dated May 20, 2014, stipulating the procedures for rescue operations by the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Force;

Article 19Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Director of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Department is responsible for guiding, inspecting, and urging the implementation of this Circular;

2. Heads of units under the Ministry of Public Security and Directors of Public Security Departments of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for implementing this Circular;

During the implementation of this Circular, if there are difficulties or obstacles, local public security organs shall report to the Ministry of Public Security (through the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Department) for timely guidance./.