Apartment, Hospital, and Factory Fires Continue... "Season of Flames, Prevention Is the Best Measure"

Christmas Apartment Fire Followed by Three More Incidents
Frequent Fires Due to Dry Winter Weather Conditions

Recently, a series of major fire incidents have occurred. Special caution is required for fires during the winter season.

Christmas 'Tragedy'... Two Men Who Tried to Protect Their Families Die in Apartment Fire

On the early morning of Christmas Day, the 25th, a fire broke out in a high-rise apartment in Dobong-gu, Seoul, resulting in 2 deaths and 29 injuries. [Image source: Provided by Dobong Fire Station, Yonhap News Agency]

In the early morning of Christmas Day, a fire broke out in an apartment in Banghak-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul. The two men in their 30s who died in the fire were both reportedly trying to protect their families, which has deeply saddened those around them.

Among them, Mr. Lim (37) was the first to report the fire to 119. He evacuated his parents in their 70s and his younger sibling first, escaping from the house last and heading toward the rooftop. However, Lim was found in cardiac arrest on the stairs of the 11th floor before reaching the rooftop.

The other deceased, Mr. Park (33), was found in cardiac arrest and transported to the hospital but ultimately passed away. The Park couple, living on the 4th floor, jumped while holding their children aged 7 months and 2 years to escape the fire. Upon realizing the fire, Mr. Park first evacuated his wife and 2-year-old daughter. Mrs. Jung (34) threw their eldest daughter into a recycling bag placed on the 1st floor of the apartment and then jumped down after her. Afterwards, Mr. Park also jumped out the window holding their youngest daughter.

The fire at this apartment at around 4:57 a.m. on the 25th resulted in 2 deaths and 30 injuries. Fire authorities deployed 150 personnel and 40 pieces of equipment, extinguishing the flames around 6:37 a.m., approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes after the report was received.

A joint investigation team consisting of police, fire officials, and the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation conducted an inspection of the fire scene on the 26th from 11 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. with 21 personnel. The team concluded that the fire started in a small room of apartment unit 301.

The police have deployed three teams, including the Dobong Police Station’s Violent Crimes Unit 1, to investigate the cause and circumstances of the fire.

Fire Continues on the 26th... No Casualties Reported

A fire broke out at a gas range hood manufacturing factory in Namchon-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon Industrial Complex, Incheon, at 12:43 a.m. on the 26th.
[Image source=Provided by Incheon Fire Department, Yonhap News]

At around 12:43 a.m. on the 26th, a fire broke out at a gas range hood manufacturing factory in Namchon-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, located within the Namdong National Industrial Complex. There were no casualties, but the fire spread and damaged three factory buildings.

The fire department issued a 'Response Level 1' alarm, which calls for the full deployment of the local fire station personnel, about 17 minutes after the fire started, around 1 a.m. Subsequently, 311 firefighters and 85 pieces of equipment, including pump trucks, were dispatched to the scene. The major flames were extinguished about two hours after the fire began, and the alarm was lifted at approximately 3:53 a.m.

At around 2:30 a.m., a fire also broke out in a warehouse building in Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province.

The fire completely destroyed three wooden warehouse buildings and one prefabricated panel building, causing an estimated property damage of about 28 million KRW according to the fire department. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

The warehouse was found to store various utensils and supplies used in a restaurant.

Additionally, at around 6:58 a.m., a fire occurred at an obstetrics and gynecology hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.

There were no casualties, but 45 people, including mothers and newborns, were evacuated. The fire department mobilized 80 personnel and 23 vehicles, completely extinguishing the fire by 7:15 a.m., about 20 minutes after it started. The fire is believed to have originated from a dryer in the basement level 1 of the building.

All these incidents are currently under thorough investigation to determine the exact causes and circumstances of the fires.

Winter Season Sees the Highest Number of Casualties from Large Fires... "Caution Needed for Cigarette Butts and Heating Devices"

Meanwhile, the National Fire Agency reported that from 2018 to last year, an average of 108 people died and 601 were injured annually due to winter fires, totaling 709 casualties.

This figure is higher than the casualties caused by fires in spring (640), autumn (529), or summer (510). The number of winter fires averaged 11,030 cases per year. Due to the cold and dry conditions in winter, increased use of heating devices leads to the highest number of fires and casualties among the four seasons.

The leading cause of fires was negligence at 50.8%, followed by electrical causes (23%), mechanical causes (10.4%), and unknown causes (9.4%).

Among negligence-related causes, cigarette butts accounted for the highest proportion at 28.1%.

The National Fire Agency urged the public to remain vigilant and pay close attention to fire prevention in daily life, especially during the winter season when the risk of fire is high.

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