Jeju Fire Station, Results of On-Site Response Team Operation... Reduced Fire Casualties and Property Damage

Jeju Fire Station contributed to a 16.8% reduction in damage compared to before the launch after analyzing the operational performance of the Field Response Unit over one year since its establishment in May last year.

According to Jeju Fire Station on the 24th, the Field Response Unit aimed to establish a self-reliant response system in Jeju and has responded to over 1,570 disaster scenes including fires, rescues, and emergency medical services over the past year, achieving both quantitative and qualitative growth such as increased personnel and deployment of specialized fire investigators.

Jeju Fire Station recently conducted a live fire training exercise with an electric bus.
[Photo by Jeju Fire Station]

A visible achievement of establishing command and control authority through the promotion of the Field Response Unit chief's rank (from Fire Captain to Fire Lieutenant Colonel) lies in systematic field response and damage reduction.

Although the number of fires (6.7% increase) and property damage (42.7% increase) over the past year increased compared to the same period before the launch, injuries caused by fires decreased by 16.7%, and damage mitigation improved by 16.8%.

Compared to the increased number of fires, the number and area of destroyed buildings decreased by 24.2% and 26.3%, respectively.

This is evaluated to have resulted from rapid decision-making under the Field Response Unit chief system and smooth command and control over related agencies during major disaster situations such as the Hwabukidong fire in April 2024 and the Naedodong fire in July 2023, when Response Level 1 was issued.

In particular, the response to simultaneous fires occurring on March 22, 2024, in Idoidong (heater) and Bonggaedong (waste) by separating the command personnel into the Field Response Unit chief and the command team leader is cited as a case that minimized response gaps in simultaneous multiple disasters through dual command operation.

The focus on diverse and specialized training is also analyzed as a major factor in strengthening field response capabilities.

During the one year of operation, 167 firefighting drills were conducted, a 2.2-fold increase compared to before the launch. Specialized training was promoted to effectively respond to a wide range of disaster situations, including training using specialized and special equipment, live fire drills, disaster-tailored theme training, and evacuation drills for vulnerable groups such as those in nursing facilities.

Reflecting Jeju’s environment with a high electric vehicle adoption rate, live fire drills for electric cars and electric buses have been promoted to thoroughly prepare for new types of fires.

Additionally, from January 2024, the deployment of specialized fire investigators through personnel increases has strengthened fire cause investigations, which is also noteworthy.

Despite the increase in fire incidents, the number of cases with unknown causes decreased by 35.3%, from 34 to 22. The fact that the unit ranked first in the fire investigation category at the 2024 Jeon-do Fire Technology Competition also serves as a positive indicator of their professional investigative capabilities.

Over the past year, Jeju Fire Station’s Field Response Unit has laid the foundation as a specialized disaster response department by focusing on minimizing human and property damage through strengthening the response system.

As fires have frequently occurred recently in various locations such as hotels, apartments, and warehouses, thorough preparation for different types of disasters is required. Based on the analysis of past operations, a more detailed operational system will be established to concentrate all capabilities on protecting the safety and lives of residents.

Jeju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Hwang Jeongpil baekok@asiae.co.kr

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