[2020 National Audit] Fire Trucks Unable to Access 41 Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Nationwide in Case of Fire

Assemblyman Oh Young-hoon, "Measures Needed to Improve On-Campus Fire Safety Facilities"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] It has been revealed that even if a fire breaks out at more than 40 elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide, fire trucks are unable to enter the school premises.

According to data on the 'Status of Schools Difficult for Fire Truck Access' submitted by the National Fire Agency to Oh Young-hoon, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, 41 schools nationwide, including Dogok Elementary School and Sunggok Middle School in Seoul, were designated as schools difficult for fire truck access this year.

The National Fire Agency designates schools difficult for fire truck access based on whether a fire ladder truck measuring 12.5m in length, 2.5m in width, and with a turning radius of 11.8m can enter. These schools were found to have narrow entrances or internal and external access roads, or obstacles installed at the school gates or in front of school buildings, making it difficult for fire trucks to enter.

Notably, while the National Fire Agency announced last year that there were only 14 schools nationwide difficult for fire truck access, that number has increased by 27 in just one year.

Assemblyman Oh Young-hoon said, "Since schools are places where our future children attend, we must be more thoroughly prepared for fire suppression," adding, "I will review various measures to improve school fire facilities during the national audit, including the legalization of investigations into schools difficult for fire truck access, improvement plans after investigations, and consultations with related agencies on the results."

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