In some big cities such as Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong... it is not difficult to see old apartment buildings, collective housing areas, and individual houses with "tiger cages" added. Initially, the purpose was to prevent theft and prevent children from climbing, but it accidentally put the homeowner in danger when there was a fire or explosion.

On the morning of July 8, a fire broke out in Tho Quan alley, Kham Thien ward (Dong Da, Hanoi), killing 3 people.

According to the authorities, the front of the house was surrounded by billboards, and the upper floors were fitted with iron frames. The "tiger cage" prevented the victims from escaping and made it difficult for the fire department to approach and rescue them.

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Authorities encountered many difficulties in accessing and rescuing the victims.

Previously, on May 13, a fire broke out on Thanh Cong Street, Quang Trung Ward (Ha Dong, Hanoi), killing 4 people.

According to the fire department, the fire started on the first floor. Outside the house, the balconies from floors 1-3 were surrounded by a solid iron fence. When the fire grew large, people could not approach the inside, nor could they break the tiger cage to rescue the victims.

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Houses surrounded by "tiger cages" make fire fighting difficult.

These are just two of many fires involving houses surrounded by "tiger cages".

According to the representative of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Hanoi City Police, tube houses and apartment buildings in large cities often have only one escape route, which is the stairs. Therefore, when a fire breaks out, this escape route is blocked by smoke and fire. If the balcony is sealed with a sturdy iron cage, it will take longer for victims to escape.

“The more solid the iron cage, the harder it is to escape when there is a fire. Cutting the iron cage will take away the golden time to rescue the victims, and the risk of causing damage to people and property will be very high,” said a representative of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Hanoi City Police.

Step up dismantling of "tiger cages"

Faced with unpredictable dangers, authorities in provinces and cities are actively encouraging people to dismantle tiger cages to create escape routes in case of fire.

Recently, the People's Committee of Hai Phong City requested the districts of Le Chan, Ngo Quyen, Hong Bang, Kien An, and Hai An to urgently carry out the work of dismantling iron cages and tiger cages in state-owned apartment buildings. Accordingly, the People's Committee of Hai Phong City directed these districts to complete the dismantling of tiger cages by December this year.

In Ho Chi Minh City, District 5 Police coordinated with Ward 1 People's Committee to conduct propaganda, guidance, and mobilize people to dismantle "tiger cages". Through this work, the authorities mobilized 21/21 households living in the apartment building at 19 Nguyen Bieu, Ward 1 to dismantle or remove part of the tiger cages, opening a second escape route to prevent fires from occurring.

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A series of "tiger cages" in an old apartment building in Thanh Xuan

In Hanoi, the campaign to mobilize people to destroy tiger cages is also being promoted. For example, in Thanh Xuan Bac ward (Thanh Xuan district), there are 4,100 households with tiger cages, 90% of which have dismantled or reduced the size of their "tiger cages", responding to the campaign of the local government.

Mobilizing people to eliminate "tiger cages" is a sustainable activity, helping to raise people's awareness of fire prevention.