On the evening of March 5, a source from Thanh Nien reporter reported initial information about the fire of ambulance BS 51B-602.29 in the parking lot at 700 Le Hong Phong, Ward 12, District 10 (HCMC) at noon the same day.

According to the source, Mr. LTT (29 years old, ambulance driver) provided that when he changed the oxygen tank gauge, while turning the valve to check the oxygen level, a fire suddenly broke out and burned. Mr. T. quickly escaped outside but suffered burns to his left and right arms.

In a related development, while receiving emergency treatment at People's Hospital 115 after the fire, Mr. T. said he was replacing the ambulance's oxygen tank in the parking lot when the oxygen tank exploded. After the accident, he suffered burns on both arms and his face.

The Emergency Department of People's Hospital 115 recorded that Mr. T. had burns on his right forearm 15 cm, right arm 8 cm, left hand 8 cm, and right cheek 5 cm. After his wounds were stabilized, Mr. T. did not agree to be hospitalized and signed a commitment to return home.

People's Hospital 115 diagnosed Mr. T. with second-degree burns of about 13% on both hands and right face due to heat/work accident.

According to information obtained by Thanh Nien reporters, after being discharged from People's Hospital 115, driver T. went to Cho Ray Hospital to continue treatment.

Previously, at around 12:15 p.m. the same day, Ward 12 Police, District 10 received a report of a fire at the above address. The ward police quickly sent a working group to the scene to ensure security and order, coordinate with other forces to participate in fire fighting and notify the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Team of District 10 Police for support.

Initial records show that the parking lot has a fire ambulance registered under the name of Mr. NHA, a business in the field of parking services, issued by the People's Committee of District 10 on October 6, 2016. The fire started in the ambulance with license plate 51B-602.29 (which had been parked at the above location for 2 days). The on-site fire fighting force, the ward police, and the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Team of District 10 Police coordinated to put out the fire in time. However, the ambulance was burned inside and the outside was scorched.

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are clarifying the ambulance fire as well as whether the ambulance's emergency transportation activities were legal or not.