Suncheon Fire Station Urges Special Caution When Using 'Hwamok Boiler'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon Fire Station (Chief Ha Soo-cheol) announced on the 26th that as temperatures drop, the use of wood-fired boilers, which burn wood, is expected to increase, and special caution is required in their installation and use.

According to the fire incident status of heating devices over the past five years, there were 22 cases involving wood-fired boilers, 6 cases involving home boilers, 5 cases involving wood or charcoal stoves, 4 cases involving electric heaters or stoves, and 15 cases involving others, showing that 'wood-fired boiler fires' were the most frequent.

Wood-fired boilers are mainly installed in rural and mountainous areas where it is easy to obtain firewood, and unlike gas boilers, there are no safety management regulations such as installation and inspection, making preventive management relatively weak.

Additionally, when located near forests, there is a high risk of fires spreading to forest fires, and without a temperature control device, overheating can easily ignite nearby combustible materials.

To use wood-fired boilers safely, flammable firewood or inflammable materials should not be stored near the boiler, and after adding wood fuel, the loading door must be firmly closed to prevent sparks from flying out.

Also, a fire extinguisher should be placed near the boiler room, the loading door should be opened from the side to avoid burns, the boiler chimney should be cleaned regularly to remove soot, and chimneys in contact with easily combustible ceilings should be covered with fire-resistant insulation materials.

Meanwhile, when installing boilers, it is essential to have them installed by professional companies and to receive regular inspections at least once a year.

Suncheon Fire Station plans to strengthen fire prevention publicity, provide guidance on wood-fired boiler installation and safety management, and enhance preventive patrols targeting wood-fired boiler handling companies and users.

Ha Soo-cheol, Chief of Suncheon Fire Station, said, “As the weather gets colder, the use of wood-fired boilers will increase,” and urged, “Please clean the chimney and avoid placing combustible materials nearby, and especially ensure that a fire extinguisher for initial fire suppression is always placed near the boiler.”

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