Circular No. 20/2014/TT-BCA on the procedures for rescue and firefighting operations by the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Force

CIRCULAR

Provisions on the rescue and firefighting procedures of the force
Fire Prevention and Fighting Police

Pursuant to Decree No. 77/2009/NĐ-CP dated September 15, 2009 stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Public Security (amended and supplemented by Decree No. 21/2014/NĐ-CP dated March 25, 2014);

Pursuant to Decision No. 44/2012/QĐ-TTg dated October 15, 2012 of the Government Chairman stipulating the rescue and firefighting work of fire prevention and fighting forces;

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

The Minister of Public Security issues this Circular stipulating the rescue and firefighting procedures of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police force.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the principles and procedures for implementing rescue and firefighting operations; standards and tasks of officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police force in performing rescue and firefighting operations; coordination relationships among participating forces in rescue and firefighting operations and the deployment of standing staff ready for rescue and firefighting.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to:

1. Officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police force (hereinafter referred to as staff) perform rescue and firefighting duties;

2. Fire Prevention and Fighting Police units and localities;

3. Public Security units and localities;

4. Agencies, organizations, and individuals related to rescue and firefighting work.

Article 3. Standards for staff performing rescue and firefighting duties

1. Rescue and firefighting command staff must have graduated from a Fire Prevention and Fighting Police college or higher, or have graduated from a university within or outside the Public Security system, and must be trained in rescue and firefighting operations.

2. Staff directly performing rescue and firefighting duties must be trained in rescue and firefighting operations.

Article 4. Deployment of standing staff ready for rescue and firefighting

1. Standing staff ready for rescue and firefighting are organized into Rescue and Firefighting Teams. Each team has at least six staff members led by a Team Leader and team members. The number of staff in a Rescue and Firefighting Team is decided by the Head of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police and Rescue and Firefighting Team or the Head of the Rescue and Firefighting Team.

2. Depending on the characteristics and situation of each area, leaders of Fire Prevention and Fighting Police and Rescue and Firefighting units deploy the appropriate number of standing teams ready for rescue and firefighting to meet the requirements of performing tasks when incidents occur.

Article 5. Principles of rescue and firefighting operations of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police force

1. Adhering to the provisions of Decision No. 44/2012/QĐ-TTg dated October 15, 2012 of the Government Chairman stipulating the rescue and firefighting work of fire prevention and fighting forces, this Circular, and other relevant laws.

2. Ensuring safety for people and means participating in rescue and firefighting operations and victims, while minimizing property damage to the lowest extent possible.

4. Ensuring mobility and timeliness; unified command and control in firefighting work.

4. Implementing the Regulations of the People's Public Security strictly, within the assigned authority and tasks.

5. Strictly prohibiting the abuse of assigned tasks to harass, cause inconvenience, or infringe upon the interests of the State, the rights, and legitimate interests of organizations and individuals.

Article 6. Coordination relationships between participating forces in rescue and firefighting operations

Coordination relationships between participating forces in rescue and firefighting operations are implemented according to the provisions of Article 18 of Circular No. 65/2013/TT-BCA dated November 26, 2013 of the Minister of Public Security detailing the implementation of certain provisions of Decision No. 44/2012/QĐ-TTg dated October 15, 2012 of the Government Chairman stipulating the rescue and firefighting work of fire prevention and fighting forces.

Chapter II
PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTING RESCUE AND FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS
AND TASKS OF STAFF AND COMMANDERS IN RESCUE AND FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS

Article 7. Receiving Information

1. Staff on duty for information must inquire about the following details when receiving reports of incidents or accidents:

a) The name, address, and telephone number (if available) of the person reporting the incident or accident;

b) What kind of incident or accident it is; preliminary cause of the incident or accident;

c) Time and location where the incident or accident occurred;

d) Initial casualties and damage to property.

2. Immediately upon receipt of the report, the staff receiving the report must report the received incident or accident to the unit's direct command leader and record the following information in the logbook for incident and accident reports (Form No. 01):

a) The name, address, and telephone number (if available) of the person reporting the incident or accident; time of receiving the report;

b) Development and preliminary cause of the incident or accident;

c) Time and location where the incident or accident occurred (specify the hour, day, month, year, at the location within the village, commune, ward, township, district, city, province, centrally governed municipality; specify the administrative level);

d) Type of incident or accident;

đ) Initial casualties and damage to property;

e) Other relevant information related to the incident or accident.

Article 8. Handling Information

When receiving reports of incidents or accidents, the unit's direct command leader must handle the information as follows:

1. Upon receiving a report of an incident or accident, the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Department shall immediately notify the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Team or the Rescue Team responsible for the area where the incident or accident occurred to carry out rescue operations according to regulations; simultaneously, they shall immediately notify the local authorities, the Public Security Department of the district, county, town, city under provincial administration (hereinafter referred to as the District-level Public Security Department), and the local firefighting forces to carry out rescue operations and maintain public security and order.

2. Upon receiving a report of an incident or accident, the Provincial or Central Municipality Fire Prevention and Firefighting Police shall immediately notify the Rescue Team responsible for the area where the incident or accident occurred to carry out rescue operations according to regulations; simultaneously, they shall immediately notify the local authorities, the District-level Public Security Department, and the local firefighting forces to carry out rescue operations and maintain public security and order; concurrently, they shall inform the District-level Fire Prevention and Firefighting Police Department about the incident or accident occurring within their jurisdiction.

3. Upon receiving a report of an incident or accident, the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Department of the Provincial or Central Municipality Public Security Department or the District-level Fire Prevention and Firefighting Police Department shall immediately notify the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Team or the Rescue Team responsible for the area where the incident or accident occurred to carry out rescue operations according to regulations; simultaneously, they shall immediately notify the local authorities, the District-level Public Security Department, and the local firefighting forces to carry out rescue operations and maintain public security and order.

4. Upon receiving a report of an incident or accident within its jurisdiction, the District-level Public Security Department must immediately dispatch forces to the scene to maintain public security and order, perform initial rescue operations, and investigate and resolve the incident or accident according to the law.

In cases where complex incidents or accidents require additional forces to maintain public security and order, the District-level Public Security Department where the incident or accident occurred must report to the Provincial Public Security Department directly managing the area to request mobilization of forces such as Protective Police, Traffic Police, and other Public Security forces to the scene to protect the area organizing rescue operations, manage traffic flow, and perform tasks as required by the rescue command.

5. If the unit's direct command leader receives a report of an incident or accident occurring outside their jurisdiction, they must fully inform the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Department managing the area where the incident or accident occurred so that they can carry out rescue operations according to regulations.

Article 9. Deployment of rescue forces and equipment to the location of accidents or incidents

1. The Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue and Emergency Response Team or the Rescue and Emergency Response Team, upon receiving reports about accidents or incidents within their management scope that require rescue operations, must promptly issue orders to mobilize forces and equipment for rescue operations; determine the number of teams participating in rescue operations; specialized equipment and devices for rescue operations; and assign officers to command rescue operations.

2. Officers assigned to command rescue operations, upon receiving orders, must immediately carry out the following tasks:

a) Assemble the rescue forces and take attendance of personnel participating in rescue operations;

b) Inspect specialized equipment and devices for rescue operations and personal protective gear equipped for officers performing rescue tasks;

c) Quickly brief officers participating in rescue operations on actions to be taken throughout the execution of rescue tasks;

d) During the execution of rescue tasks, if encountering obstacles or difficulties, the rescue operation commander must report to the directly managing unit while seeking ways to overcome these difficulties and obstacles to bring forces and equipment to the accident or incident site. Without permission from the leadership of the directly managing unit, they may not independently decide to withdraw forces and equipment;

đ) On the way to the rescue site, if encountering other accidents or incidents requiring rescue operations, the rescue operation commander must base decisions on the nature and severity of the accident or incident to determine the number of rescue teams and equipment and devices to remain and continue rescue operations, while quickly reporting to the leadership of the directly managing unit to request additional forces and equipment; simultaneously continuing with the previously determined rescue operations.

Article 10. Implementation of rescue operations at the location of accidents or incidents

1. Upon arriving at the scene of the accident or incident, the rescue operation commander must organize reconnaissance based on the nature and severity of the accident or incident to understand the situation, the ability to deploy forces and equipment to the accident or incident site, and decide on appropriate and specific rescue measures:

a) In cases where the accident or incident is not severe, the rescue operation commander can directly observe and decide on suitable rescue methods, tactics, and techniques to save victims and damaged property;

b) In cases of serious accidents or incidents, the rescue operation commander must establish a reconnaissance team for rescue operations consisting of at least three officers to conduct reconnaissance. If the accident or incident occurs at a production, business, public construction project, office building, residential complex, or other facility, the rescue operation commander may request officers from that facility to assist the reconnaissance team in their duties. The reconnaissance team for rescue operations must carry personal protective equipment and specialized equipment and devices for reconnaissance during their mission.

Tasks of the reconnaissance team for rescue operations:

- Determine the location and condition of the victims, human and property losses; entry and exit routes to the accident or incident site and rescue measures;

- Identify potential dangers threatening the lives and health of victims as well as rescue forces to ensure safety during the execution of tasks;

- Determine suitable locations to arrange rescue equipment and devices;

- Identify traces and evidence related to the accident or incident to assist in determining the cause of the accident or incident;

- Timely report the results of reconnaissance and relevant information throughout the reconnaissance process to the rescue operation commander.

2. Implementation of rescue operations

Alongside organizing reconnaissance for rescue operations, the rescue operation commander may simultaneously implement rescue operations, specifically:

a) Deploy rescue formations to positions to perform tasks;

b) Arrange rescue equipment and devices appropriately to designated positions;

c) Decide on approaches and quickly remove victims and damaged property from dangerous areas;

d) In cases where there are multiple victims and it is impossible to evacuate all at once, the rescue operation commander must base decisions on the health and survival status of each victim to determine who should be evacuated first and who later.

Article 11. Duties of the rescue and salvage commander

1. Command rescue and salvage operations.

2. Assign tasks to members of the rescue and salvage reconnaissance team and the rescue and salvage teams.

3. Decide on appropriate measures, tactics, and techniques for rescue and salvage operations to save people and damaged means of transport.

4. Inspect specialized equipment and devices for rescue and salvage operations, as well as personal protective gear provided to personnel performing rescue and salvage duties.

5. Coordinate with relevant functional forces to ensure necessary conditions for rescue and salvage operations.

6. Command and direct mobilized forces participating in rescue and salvage operations.

7. Organize initial first aid and quickly transport victims to the nearest medical facility.

8. Maintain communication with the unit throughout the rescue and salvage operation to report the situation; if complex situations arise during the rescue and salvage operation that exceed the capacity to handle them, the rescue and salvage commander must report to the unit's leadership for guidance.

Article 12. Duties of personnel participating in rescue and salvage operations

1. Obey orders from the rescue and salvage commander.

2. Be familiar with assigned tasks and the general mission of the rescue and salvage team.

3. Inspect, maintain, and use personal protective gear provided when performing rescue and salvage duties.

4. Maintain communication with the rescue and salvage commander and proactively coordinate with colleagues throughout the performance of duties.

5. Promptly report to the rescue and salvage commander about the condition of victims and situations arising during the performance of duties; promptly rescue victims from dangerous areas as soon as possible.

6. Manage and use specialized equipment for rescue and salvage operations according to regulations.

Article 13. Completion of Rescue and Salvage Operations

1. When completing rescue and salvage operations, the rescue and salvage commander shall perform the following steps:

a) Prepare a rescue and salvage record (Form No. 02) and a handover record for rescue and salvage operations (Form No. 03) as prescribed;

b) Assemble the force, take attendance of personnel participating in rescue and salvage operations, and inspect specialized equipment and devices for rescue and salvage operations before returning to the unit;

c) Report to the rescue and salvage command information center about the completion of rescue and salvage operations and allow the force and equipment to return to the unit.

2. Upon returning to the unit, the unit leader must organize maintenance and repair of rescue and salvage equipment according to regulations. If personnel are at risk of exposure to toxins during the performance of duties, the unit leader must send them to a medical facility for examination and treatment according to regulations.

3. Within five days from the date of completion of rescue and salvage operations, the unit leader of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police responsible for rescue and salvage operations must convene a meeting to draw lessons, comment, and evaluate strengths and weaknesses in the performance of duties and report the results to the immediate superior leadership. In cases where multiple Fire Prevention and Fighting Police units participate in rescue and salvage operations in the same area, the immediate superior leaders of these units must convene a meeting to draw lessons. The results of the meeting to draw lessons are recorded in a report (Form No. 04) and sent to the Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue and Salvage Police Bureau.

Chapter III
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 14. Provisions on forms to be used in rescue and firefighting operations by the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Force

1. Issuance of forms to be used in rescue and firefighting operations by the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Force, including:

a) Incident report logbook (Form No. 01);

b) Rescue and firefighting record (Form No. 02);

c) Handover record for rescue and firefighting (Form No. 03);

d) Report on lessons learned from the execution of rescue and firefighting tasks (Form No. 04).

2. Units of the Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue Police Force when printing the forms prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article must print uniformly on A4 paper size and shall not arbitrarily change the content of the forms; they have the responsibility to manage the printing, distribution, and use of the forms and maintain records to monitor their usage.

Article 15. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from July 8, 2014.

Article 16. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Director of the Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue Police Bureau is responsible for directing, urging, inspecting, and monitoring the implementation of this Circular.

2. The Heads of Departments under the Ministries, the Directors of Public Security Departments of provinces and centrally-administered cities, the Directors of Fire Prevention and Fighting Departments of provinces and centrally-administered cities, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

During the implementation of this Circular, if there are difficulties or obstacles, the Public Security units and localities, Fire Prevention and Fighting units and localities, and related organizations and individuals are requested to report to the Ministry of Public Security (through the Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue Police Bureau) for timely guidance./.