Winter Heating Equipment Fire Cause No.1: 'Hwamyok Boiler' ... 'Fire Warning' Issued

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Fire Agency issued a "Fire Warning" on the 25th, urging special caution for fire prevention as the use of wood-fired boilers increases during the period when the temperature difference between day and night grows and heating usage rises.

According to the Fire Agency, from 2010 to 2019, there were a total of 19,210 fires related to seasonal heating products, among which wood-fired boilers accounted for 19.5% (3,751 cases), the highest number. This was followed by fires caused by heating wires with 3,131 cases, electric blankets and electric mats with 2,443 cases, and electric heaters with 2,186 cases.

Wood-fired boiler fires occurred on average 375 times per year and 31 times per month over the 10 years. Monthly, the number of fires sharply increased from October, when temperatures drop, and continued until April. 66% (2,464 cases) of the fire causes were due to carelessness.

Wood-fired boilers are mainly installed in rural and farming areas where it is easy to obtain firewood, and their use is steadily increasing due to heating cost savings. However, when located near forests, there is a high risk of spreading to forest fires, and without temperature control devices, overheating can easily ignite nearby combustible materials.

Also, unlike gas boilers, there are no safety management regulations for installation, inspection, and maintenance, making preventive management relatively weak.

The Fire Agency advised that to use wood-fired boilers safely, flammable firewood or combustible materials should not be stored near the boiler, and after adding wood fuel, the loading door must be closed tightly to prevent sparks from flying out.

A fire extinguisher should be placed near the boiler room, and when opening the loading door, one should stand to the side to avoid burns. The boiler chimney should be cleaned regularly to remove soot, and chimneys in contact with flammable ceilings should be covered with fire-resistant insulation materials.

Choi Byung-il, Director of Fire Policy at the Fire Agency, urged, "When installing wood-fired boilers, be sure to have them installed through professional companies and receive regular inspections at least once a year. Please use them with special care and strictly follow fire prevention rules."

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