Jeonnam Fire Department Works Hard to Eliminate Safety Blind Spots in Island and Mountainous Areas

56% Forest Coverage and 2,165 Islands

Providing Customized Fire Safety Services Considering Regional Characteristics

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Fire Headquarters (Chief Ma Jaeyoon) is working hard to eliminate safety blind spots in island and mountainous areas.

Jeonnam Fire announced on the 21st that it is striving to resolve regional disparities in the quality of fire services and to provide fire services in island areas comparable to those in inland areas.

Jeonnam Province is composed of 56% forest area and especially holds 2,165 islands, accounting for 65% of the nation's islands.

Due to the characteristics of island and mountainous areas, it is difficult to respond quickly and efficiently to disaster situations such as fires and emergency rescues.

Accordingly, Jeonnam Fire provides customized fire safety services reflecting the characteristics of the Jeonnam region.

In fire-vulnerable areas such as islands or places difficult for fire trucks to access, 499 emergency fire extinguishing devices and 484 alleyway fire extinguisher boxes have been maintained and distributed, with about 200 more to be installed this year.

Also, this year, 10 additional ambulances will be deployed to 119 regional stations in rural fishing villages including Yeosu Nam-myeon, Wando Cheongsan, Jindo Jodo, and Sinan Ha-ui, aiming to continue the nationwide highest increase rate of 33% in cardiac arrest patient survival rates maintained over the past five years.

In the past three years, ambulances deployed in five island areas responded to 1,969 cases, providing emergency treatment to 1,280 patients before transporting them to hospitals.

Helicopters are actively used for transporting emergency patients from island areas.

In the past three years, 168 flights transported 151 patients, and a medium-sized helicopter is scheduled to be introduced in October this year to enable response even under weather restrictions such as sea fog and strong winds.

The Narmi Ship system for transporting emergency patients in island areas is currently designated and operated with 128 private vessels across 70 inhabited islands in 9 cities and counties, showing 558 transport cases in the past three years.

The Narmi Ship system uses residents' boats in island areas to transport emergency patients and supports fuel costs and allowances. It was first initiated by Jeonnam Fire in 2005 through cooperation and solidarity with local residents.

Along with eliminating fire safety blind spots in Jeonnam Province, a solid foundation for providing equal fire services to residents is also progressing smoothly.

In March, the organizational restructuring plan for establishing fire stations in Sinan County and Jindo County was finally passed by the Jeonnam Provincial Council, and earlier in January, the relocation of Jeonnam Fire Headquarters to Jangheung enabled the fire command to respond within one hour to all areas in the province.

Chief Ma Jaeyoon said, “With the opening of the new Jeonnam Fire Headquarters building, we promise the start of a new 100 years for a safer Jeonnam. We will do our best to ensure that anyone anywhere in Jeonnam Province receives equal safety services.”

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