Q1 Residential Fire Deaths Down 17% YoY... Incidents Up 3%

Most Cases of Death from Smoke Inhalation During Sleep Occur in People Aged 60 and Over

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] In the first quarter of this year, the number of residential fires increased compared to the same period last year, while the number of deaths caused by these fires decreased by 17%. However, the proportion of deaths accounted for 69% of all fire-related fatalities, indicating the need for countermeasures.

According to the Fire Agency on the 14th, there were 2,771 residential fires in the first quarter of this year, resulting in 63 deaths and 275 injuries. The property damage amounted to 17.811 billion KRW.

The number of residential fires, injuries, and property damage increased compared to the same period last year, but the number of deaths decreased. The number of residential fires in the first quarter rose by 2.9% year-on-year (2,692 → 2,771 cases), property damage increased by 36% (13 billion KRW → 17.8 billion KRW), but deaths decreased from 76 to 63, a 17% reduction.

However, the number of deaths from residential fires accounted for 69% of all fire-related deaths (91) in the first quarter, remaining high. By age group, those aged 60 and over accounted for 57%, and those in their 50s accounted for 19%. The direct cause of death was most commonly smoke or toxic gas inhalation at 49%.

The state at the time of death was in the order of sleeping, alcohol consumption, and drug use. Factors hindering evacuation were smoke, locked exits, exit obstacles, and congestion, respectively.

Additionally, the places of death were in the order of bedroom, living room, and kitchen, and by time of day, the highest was from midnight to 6 a.m., the sleeping hours, accounting for 48%.

Nam Hwa-young, Director of Fire Policy Bureau, said, "Based on the analysis of the death status, we will expand the installation of fire alarms to reduce casualties from residential fires and continuously promote fire prevention measures for vulnerable elderly people."

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