25 Casualties from Campsite Fires Over 3 Years... Fire Agency Issues Campsite Fire Warning
Electrical Factors and Negligence in Spark Management Are Major Causes
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The National Fire Agency has urged special caution against fires that may occur at campsites and other locations as the number of campers increases with the arrival of spring.
According to the National Fire Agency on the 23rd, a total of 145 fires occurred at campsites nationwide over the past three years, resulting in 25 casualties. The most common cause of fires was electrical factors with 43 cases, followed by negligence in managing embers such as charcoal with 26 cases, cigarette butts with 16 cases, mechanical factors with 13 cases, overheating/overload with 7 cases, and other carelessness with 32 cases.
The National Fire Agency emphasized that tents are made of flammable materials, so a sufficient safety distance from fire sources must be maintained, and the location and usage of fire extinguishing equipment provided at campsites should be checked in advance to prepare for fires. In January 2021, a fire presumed to be caused by careless handling of a gas burner occurred at a campsite in Seoul, resulting in one death, and in April, one person was injured in a fire caused by negligence in managing embers at a campsite in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province.
Especially in spring, due to dry conditions and strong winds, sparks can fly far and fires can spread quickly, so special caution is required at campsites adjacent to forests. Fires must be lit only in designated areas, and leftover embers should be completely extinguished by pouring plenty of water or covering them with surrounding sand or soil.
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Kwon Hyuk-min, Director General of Fire Prevention, said, “As the population engaging in outdoor leisure activities such as camping, a non-face-to-face activity, has increased due to COVID-19, fire stations will strengthen measures to eliminate hazards at campsites through joint inspections with city, county, and district offices.” He added, “To prevent fires and carbon monoxide poisoning accidents, it is recommended to install standalone fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors inside tents when camping.”
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