Seoul City Conducts Comprehensive Disaster Response Drill for Fires and Building Collapses at COVID-19 Facilities

Conducted Life-Saving Training Using Advanced Equipment
Focused Training on Infectious Disease Hospital Fires, Building Collapses, Subway Fires, and Water Accidents

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on the 30th that it will conduct a ‘Comprehensive Disaster Response Drill’ at the Seoul Fire School to enhance life-saving capabilities by operating advanced equipment.

This drill is conducted to comprehensively inspect and strengthen the large-scale disaster response system as the Fire and Disaster Headquarters gradually expands fire drills focusing on the harmony between quarantine and daily life. The training focuses on life-saving in disaster situations such as ▲fire at an infectious disease-dedicated hospital ▲building collapse ▲subway fire ▲water-related accidents.

The Seoul 119 Special Rescue Team, Eunpyeong Fire Station, police, and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) will participate in the drill, with 253 pieces of 53 types of firefighting equipment mobilized. Among the key training types, the infectious disease-dedicated hospital fire response drill will activate the Emergency Rescue Control Team, conducting life-saving operations using fire helicopters and fire ladder trucks, while simultaneously carrying out quarantine training with decontamination vehicles and decontamination tents.

At the Seoul Fire School training ground, where an actual subway station will be simulated, a life-saving drill for multiple casualties inside the station due to a subway fire will also be conducted. Numerous advanced devices such as underground search robots, on-site video transmission equipment, and portable air supply devices will be operated during this drill.

In addition, the ‘2021 Seoul Fire Drone Operation Competition’ will be held alongside this drill. Drones are increasingly utilized equipment for collecting three-dimensional on-site information at fire and collapse accident scenes.

The drone operation competition, participated by employees of the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters, will be divided into individual professional operation categories and two-person teams in the life-search category. Participating employees will demonstrate drone operation capabilities including drone control and tactical operation, disaster site filming, obstacle avoidance skills, and accident site information collection.

Meanwhile, to strengthen on-site response capabilities through the harmony of quarantine and training, the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters has organized a training support team at the headquarters and training planning teams at each fire station to focus on tactical training by firefighting agencies. Each fire station develops training programs tailored to regional characteristics and expands surprise dispatch drills and team-based tactical training. Incentives such as commendations and cash rewards are also provided to outstanding employees.

Choi Tae-young, head of the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters, said, “This comprehensive drill is conducted to strengthen the response capability to special accidents in preparation for the phased recovery of daily life,” and added, “We will ensure there are no gaps in disaster response while harmoniously operating quarantine and firefighting forces.”

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