A Middle School Student Who Shouted "Fire" Until Losing Their Voice... Saved Neighbors at the Fire Scene

All 56 Residents Evacuated Safely

Last month, a middle school student at a fire scene in an officetel in Incheon raised his voice until he lost his voice to alert others about the fire and convey evacuation instructions, preventing significant casualties, a heartwarming story revealed.

According to the Incheon Fire Headquarters on the 1st, on the 21st of last month, the police awarded a commendation to Jo Wooshin (14), a second-year student at Inha University Attached Middle School of Education, who greatly helped with initial response at a fire that occurred in an officetel in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, Yonhap News reported.

Jo Woo-shin, who received a police commendation (third from the right) [Photo by Yonhap News (provided by Inha University Middle School)]

The fire broke out around 9:21 a.m. on the 21st, a weekend, on the 2nd floor of a 10-story residential officetel in Michuhol-gu, Incheon. At that time, Jo, who was inside his home on the 7th floor with his family, happened to witness black smoke billowing up.

Jo left his home and evacuated via the stairs, repeatedly shouting "Fire!" and "Evacuate quickly!" so that neighbors could hear. The stairs were already filled with smoke.

Even after getting outside the building, Jo shouted loudly. Hearing his voice, residents who opened their windows were told by Jo, "Cover your mouth and nose with a wet towel and evacuate in a low posture."

Regarding the situation, Jo explained, "While evacuating with my family, I instinctively shouted loudly because I couldn't see other people."

Many residents only realized there was a fire after hearing Jo's shouts. Some neighbors expressed gratitude, saying that without Jo's loud cries, it would have been difficult to escape the fire scene.

The Michuhol Police Station in Incheon recognized that Jo took the lead in helping residents during the critical initial evacuation at the fire scene and awarded him a commendation in the name of the police chief.

A police official stated, "Jo helped greatly with the initial response by informing neighbors of the fire and explaining evacuation methods until he lost his voice. As a result, despite the disaster where many households were completely destroyed, all 56 residents evacuated safely without any deaths or serious injuries."

Yoon Kyungho, principal of Inha University Attached Middle School of Education, said, "It seems that regular safety education and disaster evacuation drills were effective. I want to praise Jo for showing courage and quick thinking even in a dangerous situation."

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