Jeonnam Fire Department Urges 'Electrical Appliance Inspection and Safety Rule Compliance' During Monsoon Season

Electrical Causes Account for 35% of Fires During Monsoon Season Over the Past 5 Years

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Fire Headquarters (Chief Ma Jaeyoon) urged the public to conduct regular inspections of electrical appliances and adhere to safety rules to prevent fires ahead of the rainy season.

According to Jeonnam Fire on the 17th, there were 549 fire incidents during the rainy seasons in Jeonnam over the past five years (2015?2019), resulting in 28 casualties (3 deaths and 25 injuries) and property damage amounting to 5.77 billion KRW.

Fires caused by electrical factors such as short circuits accounted for 35% (192 cases), followed by negligence factors such as food preparation at 33% (181 cases), and mechanical factors such as poor maintenance at 12.2% (67 cases).

Looking into the detailed causes of electrical fires, unidentified short circuits accounted for 29.2% (56 cases), insulation deterioration 21.4% (41 cases), tracking caused by moisture and dust 14.1% (27 cases), overload and overcurrent 9.9% (19 cases), poor contact 9.4% (18 cases), and other causes including leakage 16.1% (31 cases).

A Jeonnam Fire Headquarters official stated, “Fires caused by electrical factors are more likely during the rainy season as the use of electrical appliances such as air conditioners and dehumidifiers increases, leading to damage to wire insulation or fires caused by dust and moisture accumulated in outlets.” He added, “It is necessary to pay special attention to fire prevention by regularly inspecting leakage breakers and unplugging electrical appliances that are not in use.”

Fire Chief Ma Jaeyoon said, “With increased humidity and electricity usage during the rainy season, the possibility of electrical fires is expected to rise.” He urged, “Conduct safety inspections before use, avoid prolonged use of electrical appliances, and follow safety rules such as prohibiting the use of octopus wiring.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.