It was anything but a quiet afternoon in March.
15:13, March 20, 2025
The phone rang urgently at the MHT Firefighting and Rescue Station. On the other end, the voice of an officer from Ha Thuong Commune Police cut through: “Local burning has sparked a forest fire. There’s a high risk it could spread toward the company’s facilities”.
15:17: a mere four minutes after the call, the Emergency Response Team (ERT) was already on-site, over two kilometers from the station. Under the scorching late-March sun, flames crackled and roared, creeping dangerously close to the high-voltage power cables and the HPPE pipelines, critical lifelines for the entire plant.
Amid the chaos, Pham Van Son, ERT Shift Leader, called upon his calm under pressure and years of experience to issue rapid orders:
- Direct the fixed water cannons to suppress the fire’s main front
- Deploy two auxiliary hoses to encircle the blaze and prevent it from spreading
- Support local residents in extinguishing fires around the perimeter
“In that moment, all I could think about was speed,” Son recalled. “Every second counted. If we’d been just a few minutes slower, the consequences could have been unimaginable”.
Eyes burned from the thick smoke. Heat radiated through boots into the earth below. The roar of water pumps intertwined with shouts of coordination and determination.
After a tense 15 minutes, the flames threatening the company’s border were largely under control. And 40 minutes later, the fire was completely extinguished.
“When we finally shut off the hoses, we looked at each other, faces streaked with sweat, grime, and ash, but our eyes were shining. That was the look of people who’d just completed a mission”, Son shared.
What appeared heroic that day wasn’t luck. It was the result of thousands of hours of rigorous training, real-life scenario drills, and above all, unwavering commitment.
At MHT, ERT lives by a simple rule: Don’t wait for a fire to happen to start worrying about how to fight it. The team focuses on prevention, frequent drills, and ensuring a constant state of readiness, 24/7.
In 2024 alone, ERT successfully handled:
At many companies, fire response teams often wear multiple hats, drawn from security staff or technical departments, relying on external forces when major incidents strike.
But at MHT, the ERT is a dedicated, professional unit trained to international standards and equipped with modern technology. Its 131 members, both full-time and part-time, have the expertise and confidence to independently manage a wide range of emergencies.
Since 2022, the ERT hasn’t just protected MHT’s facilities – it has extended its impact to the broader community, successfully assisting in 15 major external fire and rescue operations.
This spirit of professionalism and proactive engagement has become a crucial backbone for MHT, giving every employee confidence that they work in a safe, well-protected environment.
Climate change. Extreme heat. Sudden forest fires. These risks threaten everyone, everywhere. Fire safety is not only the responsibility of the ERT – it’s a shared duty for all of us, every day, in every role.
Don’t wait for sirens to remind you of your role in keeping our workplace safe. Instead, start with the simple actions that save lives:
- Stay alert for fire risks in your surroundings
- Report any unusual signs immediately
- Follow safety guidelines precisely
- Learn how to use firefighting equipment confidently
A devastating fire can ignite from a single spark, but it can just as quickly be prevented by collective vigilance and awareness.
Let’s stay proactive. Let’s stay vigilant. Let’s act.
For your safety, the safety of your colleagues, and the well-being of our entire community.