Jeonnam Fire Department Urges Caution Against Fires Caused by Winter Heating Appliances

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Jeonnam Fire Headquarters (Chief Ma Jaeyoon) has urged caution in the use of heating appliances as the cold weather has arrived earlier than usual.

According to the Jeonnam Fire Headquarters on the 21st, there were 205 heating appliance fires during the winter seasons (November to February) over the past five years (2015?2019). These incidents resulted in 16 casualties (2 deaths and 14 injuries) and damages amounting to 1.64 billion KRW.

Last year, there were a total of 33 heating appliance fires in the province during winter: 20 involving wood-fired boilers, 1 electric heating pad, 9 electric heaters, and 3 hot air blowers used in vinyl greenhouses.

In particular, since heating appliance fires often occur in places where people reside, there is a high risk of casualties, so special caution is required.

Wood-fired boilers, which use wood or other fuel as raw materials, do not have temperature control devices, so overheating must be avoided.

If the chimney overheats, it can ignite nearby combustible materials, so it is advisable not to leave the boiler unattended while it is operating.

Additionally, heating appliances such as electric heating pads and heaters should always be turned off after use, kept away from flammable materials (such as blankets and pillows), and their prolonged use should be avoided.

Chief Ma Jaeyoon of the Fire Headquarters said, “As the temperature difference between day and night increases, the use of heating devices is rising, which also increases the risk of fire. We hope that by following safety rules when using heating appliances in winter, people will protect their precious homes from fire.”

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