Police: Cigarette Butt and Lighter Found at Fire Origin in Dobong-gu Apartment

Weight Given to Possibility of Arson Not Caused by Electrical Factors or Fire-Setting

At the site of an apartment fire in Banghak-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul, which resulted in two deaths, cigarette butts and a lighter were found, and the police are investigating their connection to the cause of the fire.

On the early morning of Christmas Day, a fire broke out in a high-rise apartment in Dobong-gu, Seoul, resulting in the deaths of two people. On the 26th, the police and fire authorities conducted a joint on-site inspection. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Dobong Police Station in Seoul announced on the 26th that during a joint inspection at the fire scene, cigarette butts and a lighter were discovered in a small room, Room 301, suspected to be the ignition point. They consider these items as part of crucial evidence and are verifying their relation to the fire incident that occurred the previous day. From 11 a.m. that day, the police, along with fire authorities, the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation, and 21 personnel, conducted an investigation at the apartment fire site for about 3 hours and 20 minutes to determine the cause and circumstances of the accident, estimating a high possibility of arson.However, the police regard the possibility of the fire being caused by electrical factors such as malfunction or short circuit of electrical devices, or other causes like intentional arson, as low, and believe the fire was caused by human negligence.

On Christmas Day, at around 4:57 a.m., a fire broke out in Room 301 on the 3rd floor of a 23-story apartment building in Banghak-dong and was completely extinguished about 4 hours later. The fire resulted in the deaths of Park (33), a resident of the 4th floor, and Im (38), a resident of the 10th floor, while 30 residents were injured and transported to hospitals. According to the preliminary autopsy results of Park and Im, the causes of death are presumed to be 'multiple blunt force injuries' and 'fire death due to smoke inhalation,' respectively. Based on the joint inspection and autopsy results conducted that day, the police plan to continue investigations of related parties.

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