Nationwide Fire Stations Implement 'Special Alert Duty' for Christmas and Year-End Holidays

Deployment of 1,655 Firefighters and 547 Fire Trucks Near 491 Multi-Use Facilities

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The National Fire Agency announced on the 24th that fire stations nationwide will conduct special alert duty during Christmas and the year-end and New Year holidays to prevent safety accidents and respond swiftly to major fires and other incidents.

The 'Christmas Special Alert Duty' period is from 6 p.m. on the 24th to 9 a.m. on the 28th, and the 'Year-end and New Year Special Alert Duty' period is from 6 p.m. on the 31st to 9 a.m. on January 4 of next year.

In previous years, firefighting forces were concentrated at places where large crowds gathered, such as Christmas or New Year's events, but this year, since most events were canceled due to COVID-19 prevention measures, emergency duty will focus on fire prevention and strengthening vigilance at fire-vulnerable targets.

First, to proactively respond to various disasters, fire station chiefs will strengthen the on-site command system by working on the command line.

During the special alert duty period, fire stations nationwide will conduct joint patrols with volunteer firefighters at fire-vulnerable places such as nursing hospitals, old lodging facilities, jjokbangchon (small room villages), and traditional markets, establishing a 24-hour monitoring system by removing abandoned combustible materials and fire risk factors. Enforcement against illegal parking around emergency fire extinguishing devices and fire hydrants will also be strengthened.

At 491 multi-use facilities such as terminals, 1,655 firefighting personnel and 547 fire trucks will be deployed nearby.

Shin Yeol-woo, Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, said, "Although most events were canceled this year and places where crowds gather are expected to decrease, fire prevention must never be neglected," and urged, "We ask citizens to also cooperate with COVID-19 prevention measures."

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