Gwangju Fire Department Supports Flood Damage Recovery

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Fire Department has stepped up flood recovery support to help citizens affected by heavy rain return to their daily lives.

According to the 119 Comprehensive Situation Room's tally on the 12th, Gwangju Fire Department deployed 839 pieces of equipment and 2,517 firefighters from the 7th, when a heavy rain warning was issued, until 9 p.m. on the 10th. They carried out 826 safety measures for factory, residential, and road flooding and rescued 116 people trapped by flooding.

Subsequently, they suspended mandatory fire administration duties such as inspections of fire facilities in factories, medical facilities, and neighborhood facilities, and firefighters and volunteer firefighters conducted recovery activities including removal of soil and debris from flooded houses and farms.

First, by operating a fire facility damage recovery support center, they aim to prevent fire damage and minimize economic losses through rapid restoration of fire facilities.

From the 11th to the 30th, 30 members of the fire safety information investigation team from five fire stations will conduct damage status surveys and support recovery at 257 locations including factories, neighborhood facilities such as stores and offices, and medical facilities.

The support includes ▲ flood damage status surveys ▲ confirmation of normal operation of fire facilities ▲ suspension of mandatory fire administration duties such as self-inspections by affected businesses ▲ inspection and replacement of basic fire facilities such as fire extinguishers ▲ prioritizing damage recovery to resume factory production.

Additionally, fire vehicles and volunteer firefighters will be mobilized to support recovery until it is completed.

In particular, within the scope that does not hinder emergency response, fire vehicles and equipment will be used to supply drinking water, assist drainage in flooded areas, remove soil from flooded houses and stores, and clear surrounding floating debris.

Furthermore, volunteer firefighters from the five fire stations will cooperate with local districts to assist with recovery work until stabilization for flood-damaged facilities and farms.

Kim Young-don, head of the city's Fire Prevention Division, said, “We will spare no firefighting resources and do our best to support rapid recovery with safety as the top priority until citizens’ inconveniences are minimized.”

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