The Fire Services Bureau (CB) announced at a press conference yesterday that 680 fire call-outs were recorded between January and September, marking an increase of 59 cases (9.5 percent) compared to the same nine-month period last year.
The press conference regarding the bureau’s operational data for the first three quarters of this year was held at the CB headquarters in Nam Van.
According to official statistics, 547 of these incidents (80.44 percent of total fire call-outs) were handled in their initial stages without requiring hose pipes to extinguish the flames, Seong said.
According to Seong, unattended stoves, unattended open flames, burning of incense or joss paper, electrical short circuits, and mechanical or equipment failures accounted for 441 of the cases, representing 64.85 percent of all fire call-outs during the nine-month period.
CB senior officer Seong Wa pointed out that ambulance dispatch cases reached 35,895 between January and September this year, representing a 6.33 percent year-on-year increase (up by 2,137 cases), mainly involving dizziness, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, vomiting, fever, and various physical injuries.
In light of the figures, the bureau appealed to the public to use ambulance services prudently, ensuring that emergency medical resources remain available for those in critical need, Seong added.
The bureau continued its ongoing fire safety inspections across various premises, carrying out 7,595 inspections from January to September, Seong pointed out, adding that during inspections, officers issued verbal warnings or official notices to those responsible when non-fixed objects were found obstructing evacuation routes.
Seong noted that for repeat offenders or severe violations, administrative penalty procedures were initiated. Over the nine months, 102 administrative penalties were imposed, primarily involving motorcycles parked on or clutter being stored along evacuation routes, while an additional 37 penalty procedures are currently underway.
Under the relevant regulation for the supervision of dangerous goods, the bureau conducted 5,584 regulatory inspections between January and September 2026, Seong said, adding that a total of four administrative penalties were finalised during this period, all involving the storage of excessive quantities of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Fire Services Bureau (CB) senior officer Seong Wa (centre) and other officers look on during a press conference about the bureau’s operational data for Q1-Q3 of this year held at the CB headquarters in Nam Van. – Photo: Ida Cheong
