'114 Years' of Suwon Fire Station Historical Records Unearthed... Documents on Building Expansion Discovered

Suwon Fire Brigade Office and Steel Siren Tower during the Japanese Colonial Period

The 114-year historical puzzle of Suwon Fire Station, boasting the longest history in Gyeonggi Province, has finally been completed.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on the 27th that through this year's 'Gyeonggi Fire History Search Project,' they recently discovered documents related to the expansion of the fire station building made in 1953, following the Personnel Command at the opening of Suwon Fire Station in 1947 and the Fire Investigation Department in 1952.

The newly discovered documents, created in 1953, include various papers such as the construction bid for the expansion of the Suwon Fire Station building, which opened on May 1, 1947, at 135 Gyodong, Paldal-gu, Suwon City, as well as elevation and floor plans, and project plans.

Additionally, materials were found in which the then Suwon Fire Station Chief requested the Suwon Mayor to enact a fire tax ordinance to secure the budget. The Suwon Museum also found the first photograph of the Suwon Fire Station building. Notably, a photo was unearthed showing the fire brigade (消防組) building and the steel siren tower, which were composed of civilians during the Japanese colonial period before the fire station was established.

Earlier in May, the Provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters discovered the Personnel Command from the opening of Suwon Fire Station and the Fire Investigation Department created in 1952.

As a result, Suwon Fire Station is now recognized as the only fire station in South Korea with a diverse preservation of historical activity records.

Boasting a 114-year history, Suwon Fire Station opened the modern firefighting era by establishing the fire brigade following Incheon and Kaesong in 1909. The Suwon fire brigade continuously grew and accelerated mechanization with the 20th anniversary ceremony in 1929.

In 1931, it acquired a new gasoline fire pump from the Gyeonggi Police Department, introduced a 56-horsepower fire truck in 1932, and in 1937, added a 2,000-liter pump truck, equipping itself with major mechanical equipment.

In 1933, the fire hall and fire brigade building (a single-story building with an area of 84 pyeong) were newly constructed within the Suwon Bugukwon (富國園) site, strengthening the public-private firefighting system.

After liberation, during the U.S. military government period in 1947, Suwon Fire Station finally opened under the Gyeonggi Fire Agency, the first in the Gyeonggi area, at 135 Gyodong, Paldal-gu, Suwon City (currently across from the Suwon Women's Family Center).

It was later rebuilt and relocated nearby to Gyodong in 1967 and was used until the opening of Suwon Southern Fire Station in 1996. Currently, the site is used by the Maesan 119 Safety Center of Suwon Southern Fire Station.

Jo Seon-ho, head of the Provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters, said, "In the case of fire stations opened before the Japanese colonial period or the Korean War, most documents and materials were lost due to war and relocation of the station, but Suwon Fire Station still retains key materials such as the building expansion documents, Personnel Command, and Fire Investigation Department, completing the 114-year historical puzzle of Suwon Fire Station." He added, "We also plan to actively pursue designating the old Suwon Fire Station building and its attached training tower, which have been in operation since 1967, as cultural heritage, as they are the oldest existing fire station buildings in South Korea."

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