[2020 National Audit] Firefighting Vulnerability in Super High-Rise and High-Rise Buildings Increases in Provincial Areas

Rep. Yang Gi-dae: No Fire Helicopters in Daejeon and Sejong... 70m Aerial Ladder Trucks Absent in 10 Cities and Provinces

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Firefighting helicopters and 70-meter-class articulating ladder trucks, essential for extinguishing fires in super high-rise and high-rise buildings, are mainly deployed in the metropolitan area, making it difficult for some local governments to respond properly in case of fire.

According to data submitted by the National Fire Agency to Yang Ki-dae, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, there are two regions, Daejeon and Sejong, without firefighting helicopters essential for extinguishing fires in super high-rise and high-rise buildings.

Gwangju, Ulsan, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, and Jeju each have one firefighting helicopter, while Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gangwon, and Gyeongbuk each have two. Seoul and Gyeonggi have three firefighting helicopters each.

Rescue personnel were also lacking more in local areas. Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam had more than 100 fewer personnel than the legally mandated staffing levels.

Regarding the 70-meter-class articulating ladder trucks essential for extinguishing fires in super high-rise buildings, Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi in the metropolitan area each have two, while Busan, Daejeon, Sejong, and Jeju each have one. Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, 10 have no 70-meter-class articulating ladder trucks at all.

Yang's analysis points out that helicopters, personnel, and 70-meter-class articulating ladder trucks are essential to extinguish fires in super high-rise and high-rise buildings, but such equipment is lacking in local areas. During the recent fire at a residential-commercial complex apartment in Ulsan, it took six hours for a 70-meter-class articulating ladder truck to arrive from Busan, missing the golden time for firefighting.

Yang emphasized, "Although firefighters have been converted to national government employees, there are still many insufficient equipment in local areas. We must supplement the metropolitan-centered operation so that when disasters occur in local areas, there is no shortage of equipment or personnel, preventing threats to citizens' lives and minimizing property damage."

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