Binjiang Police Affairs

The Port District was on fire, and at the worst possible time for firefighting capabilities!

Han Yu, as the Deputy Division Commander of the Changhang Fire Department, was burning with anxiety and wished to reach the fire scene as quickly as possible.

However, the firefighting water supply system at No.3 Pier was not perfect. The water from a few fire hydrants came from the municipal water supply network and the pressure was inadequate. The scant water from the fire hydrants would hardly extinguish the major fire at the pier, so the recently upgraded "001" must be mobilized.

Although the high-pressure water cannon on board "001" could not reach the fire, once connected to the high-pressure firefighting hoses that were explosion-proof, and the fire pumps on "001" were turned on, water could be continuously transported ashore.

Then by moving the water divider onshore, connecting it to the explosion-proof high-pressure hoses on the intake side, the output side could provide high-pressure water to six fire nozzles simultaneously.

"001" had replaced its two main engines with those that were much more powerful and quieter, but no matter how powerful the engines, it was still a boat. It could never outrun a four-wheeled vehicle.

Xiao Gong had gone home for the holidays on the 27th of the twelfth lunar month, and Captain Fan had also gone home for the New Year.

Old Zhu could drive the boat, but a tugboat like "001" needed at least two crew members.

Just as Han Yu was frantically moving the explosion-proof high-pressure hoses onto "001," his father, brother-in-law, and Old Qian followed in Big Brother's van.

"Dad, Uncle Qian, what are you doing here?"

"I was just drinking and chatting earlier, didn't think too much about it. After you left, I suddenly remembered there was only Old Zhu on the dunship; the two of you have no problem steering the boat, but when you get there, how can you spare the hands to fight the fire? I'm pretty sober now; I'll help you steer."

Friend Han usually had to operate the boat and sometimes also manually load and unload goods at some docks without loading equipment; he was very strong, bending down to lift the heavy hose and walking towards the "old relic".

Father and son fought side by side in battle.

Han Yu couldn't help but recall the first time they fought the eel battle, when his father and Big Brother helped steer the boat, and he urgently said, "Dad, you've been drinking."

"What about it?"

"Drinking means you can't operate a boat!"

"Of course, you can't operate a boat if you're drinking, but today is a special case. Ningning said that as long as you're careful, you can drive."

His father wouldn't listen to anyone else, only his daughter-in-law.

Han Yu was completely convinced, and considering his father's tolerance for alcohol was good, these days drinking and boating is strictly prohibited, but in the past, he would drink almost every day, even drinking while boating. He was about to agree to let him steer when Han Shen came up with a laugh: "Don't worry, I'm also here."

Old Qian, while helping to carry the heavy hoses, joked, "Salted Fish, you can't leave the dunship unattended. While you're gone, I can keep watch."

Zhang Jiangkun was even holding an insulated bucket, pulling Zhu Baogen, "Uncle Zhu, eat first; we can carry these!"

"Just a few more bundles..."

"Leave this physical work to us young folks, hurry up and eat, or the dishes will get cold."

After "001" was upgraded for the second time, it was Friend Han who helped drive the boat out of the dry dock, and later, he also participated in the whole trial run. Although he had been drinking, with Big Brother and Zhu Baogen, who could also steer the boat, there should be no problem.

Han Yu, while hastily changing into firefighting gear, urgently said, "Dad, Uncle Zhu, you steer the boat over. I'll drive. Today the division is short-staffed, I'll rush to the fire scene to see what's going on."

"Alright, drive safely."

Friend Han waved his hand, signaling his son to hurry.

Han Yu, now dressed in firefighting gear with a walkie-talkie in hand, had just run onto shore along the pontoon when Han Ning was seen chasing after him on a bicycle.

"Sis, what are you doing here?"

"The Port District is on fire. How could I not know about that—once I did know, I had to rush back!"

Han Yu suddenly remembered that his sister was a police officer at the Binjiang Port Police Station; if there was a fire in the area her station covered, she needed to rush back to see.

Her brother-in-law worked for the Port Authority; if there was a fire at the docks, he also needed to rush back to his unit.

Since it was necessary for both public and private reasons, then the entire family would go into action.

Han Yu turned on the siren, sounded the alarm, and after his sister sat in the passenger seat, he drove frantically toward Binjiang Port while calling on his mobile phone.

"Political Commissioner, I'm Salted Fish. I'm on my way to the fire scene right now, how big is the fire, and what's burning?"

"Lumber stored in the open caught fire. The fire is considerable, flames are shooting up into the sky, and the smoke is billowing! I've just arrived at the scene, about twenty meters away from the fire, with the surrounding temperature being at least forty degrees."

"Are there any casualties?"

"The fire at the dock is fierce, cutting off the path ashore. Two workers on duty are trapped by the river. Director Zhu has arrived and is arranging a supervision boat to rescue them from the river."

Han Yu thought for a moment and then asked, "The flames are shooting into the sky, how tall are the fire pillars?"

A hot blast hit, and Political Commissioner Jiang instinctively stepped back a few steps, gravely saying, "At least ten meters!"

Han Yu pressed, "Where are Fang Guoya and his team fighting the fire, and how long will it take them to reach the fire scene?"

"I just called the 119 Command Center. They've fought fires four times this afternoon, and half an hour ago, they received orders to support the Gaoru Fire Brigade. Right now, they are fighting a fire at Gaoru in a residential area; they are the main force there and can't pull out at the moment."

"Then let's not rush them; we'll think of how to save ourselves."

"To save ourselves we need people; how can we do it without people?"

Clearly, there were two "fire engines" and more than twenty trained firefighters, but now they were all out helping others to extinguish fires, knowing that their own jurisdiction was on fire but unable to return.

This isn't just about neglecting others' farmlands; it's about letting our own fields lie fallow.

Political Commissioner Jiang was so anxious he was going in circles, not knowing how to explain to the Port Authority leaders later.

Han Yu could understand the mood of the Bureau leaders and quickly said: "Commissioner, we'll have people. We can be in place within an hour at most. Binjiang Port Police Station has a contingency plan; start organizing the on-duty police and dock workers according to the plan to clear flammable materials near the fire point.

At the same time, open the fire boxes near the fire point, pull out the hoses and connect them to the hydrants, and spray water on nearby warehouses that could potentially catch fire to cool them down. The priority right now is to prevent the fire from spreading further!"

"Not start putting out the fire first?"

"Commissioner, based on the intensity of the fire you described, the few water cannons at the storage yard won't be able to put it out."

"Oh, I see."

"Wait, we must quickly figure out what goods are stored in the warehouses near the storage yard. If it's valuable materials, we need to organize forces for relocation immediately. If it's flammable, explosive, or hazardous materials, then use all available water cannons to spray the warehouses. While cooling it down, also prevent the floating sparks from igniting them."

"Okay, I'll ask right away!"

Han Yu ended the call and continued to dial Sister Zhu at the Port Supervision Bureau on her cell phone.

Two dock workers were trapped by the river; Zhu Chunmiao was standing on the Supervision Boat organizing the on-duty personnel for the rescue and received Han Yu's call, asking anxiously: "Salted Fish, where are you now? How long will it take to get here?"

"I'm on the way; I should be able to reach the fire scene in about twenty-five minutes."

"The fire is too big, you coming alone is of no use, hurry and contact the Fire Brigade..."

From what we've just learned, the dock fire will surely cause economic losses, but it should not lead to any casualties.

Fang Guoya and his team were dispatched by Binjiang Fire Department to fight a residential fire. Human lives are paramount; that area is obviously more important than the Port District.

Han Yu didn't want to call the 119 Command Center because tonight was their busiest time, and they certainly wouldn't be able to spare the manpower for the Port District any time soon.

"Director Zhu, I'll take care of the personnel issue; the top priority right now is to save people."

"The people have been picked up onto the boat!"

"That's good to hear, now you need to organize the on-duty personnel and instruct the vessels at No.3 Pier and in the vicinity to move to safe berths as quickly as possible, and to have the Traffic Control Center remind the ships via VHF to keep a close eye on the fire situation."

Sister Zhu was startled, then quickly said: "Got it. Anything else?"

"Yes."

Han Yu took a deep breath before adding, "Sister Zhu, aren't you on the Supervision Boat? Start a safety inspection to prevent sparks from floating onto the cargo holds and causing secondary accidents. Also, remind the two nearby hazardous goods docks to suspend oil operations."

...

Since the establishment of the Water Fire Rescue Team, it hasn't just been training.

In the past year, the fire brigades of the three police stations, together with the Water Police Branch, referred to the Yangtze River Waterfront Navigation Map and traversed the entire shoreline, creating a contingency plan for each site, factory, ship, dock, and basin within their jurisdiction.

While Political Commissioner Jiang was, according to the contingency plan of Binjiang Port Police Station Fire Brigade, organizing the Port Authority leaders who hurried to the scene to clear the flammable materials around the fire point to prevent further spread of the fire, Han Yu was making frequent phone calls while driving.

"Station Chief Xu, this is Han Yu; how many people are on duty at your gas station tonight? Here's what happened—a fire broke out at Binjiang Port No.3 Pier... Great, thank you so much; I'll arrange for someone to pick them up!"

"Manager Liu, this is Han Yu from Changhang Bureau; how many people are on duty at your ferry tonight..."

"Political Commissioner Wang, it's Han Yu. You're aware, right? Fang Guoya and his team are outside, Gaoru Port has been notified, but we still lack people. Great, I'll mobilize our side; we're counting on you for your side!"

Water firefighting is different from land firefighting; it can't rely on individual efforts—it must mobilize all possible social forces.

Sluices, ferries, gas stations, shipyards, docks—every riverside enterprise falls within the mobilization scope of the Changhang Bureau and the Water Police Branch of Binjiang Police Bureau, and they have organized fire drills more than once.

By the time Han Yu hurriedly arrived at the fire scene, thirteen personnel from six units who had participated in firefighting drills were there, under the command of Political Commissioner Jiang and Deputy Director Liu from the Port Authority, attempting to approach the fire point and use water cannons to control the spread of the fire.

Just as Political Commissioner Jiang had said on the phone, the fire was fierce; the flames shot into the sky, lighting up the entire No.3 Pier.

Due to the high temperature and significant physical exertion, a Port Authority worker, exhausted and pale with his eyebrows singed off by the flames.

Han Yu put on his helmet, pulled down his face shield, rushed over to pull him back, and then quickly looked around before running over to snatch the portable loudspeaker from Political Commissioner Jiang, shouting: "Attention everyone—I am Han Yu, Deputy Division Commander of the Changhang Bureau Fire Brigade. From now on, everyone follows my command!"

Political Commissioner Jiang didn't feel upset about losing command; on the contrary, he felt relieved.

Deputy Director Liu from the Port Authority really wanted to ask this "fish" where he had taken their own fire brigade, but considering that there can only be one voice on the dock, he simply stepped aside like Political Commissioner Jiang.

"Director Zhang, please arrange for twelve comrades to replace those few over there and continue spraying towards the warehouse to cool it down."

"Yes!"

The on-duty Deputy Director of Binjiang Port Police Station replied and, with two police officers and a dozen familiar dockworkers, rushed over without hesitation.

Han Yu turned to look at his older sister and shouted: "Friend Han Ning, take four people with you to clear the road from the main gate to here. I've just contacted the 119 Command Center and the Water Police Branch; they're gathering forces to come and support. You must ensure that the fire engines have clear access, and all those vehicles over there need to be moved."

Han Ning saw her brother commanding the operation for the first time and promptly replied: "Yes!"

"Director Ding, take six people and immediately clear the path from here to Crane No.6; 001 will arrive soon, and we need to lay high-pressure hoses when it arrives. You must clear the hose-laying area within fifteen minutes."

"Director Xu, please take a few people to the east side of the fire point, and break through the east side wall as fast as possible. Reinforcements will be arriving soon; we need to establish a position on the east side of the fire point."

"Okay, Old Xu, Old Li, come with me..."

"I ask other comrades and comrades from various units here to assist to gather in the open space in front. We need to tally the equipment and regroup!"