Gwanak-gu Holds Emergency TF Meeting for Electric Vehicle Fire Prevention Measures

Comprehensive Inspection of 1,162 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Fire Prevention Facilities... Overall Safety Management of Electric Vehicles Checked
Installation of Inert Gas Fire Suppression Covers in Public Facility Basements and Expansion of EV-Dedicated Fire Extinguishers to Prevent Chain Explosions
Active Promotion of Overcharging Prevention and Fire Response Guidelines for EVs, and Fire Safety Training for Apartment Safety Managers Initiated

Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee) has taken measures to alleviate residents' anxiety caused by electric vehicle fires and to prevent human and material damage.

Following an electric vehicle fire incident that occurred on the 1st in the underground parking lot of an apartment in Cheongna-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, the district formed a task force (TF) team to prevent similar accidents within Gwanak-gu. The team held an emergency meeting to check the status by department and prepare response measures.

There are 2,027 electric vehicles operating within Gwanak-gu, and 1,162 electric vehicle charging stations. To ensure fire safety management of electric vehicle charging facilities in the area, the district is working to ease residents' concerns about electric vehicle fires through ▲a full survey of electric vehicle charging stations ▲urgent inspection of fire prevention facilities ▲establishment of fire prevention facility installation plans.

First, the district will conduct a full survey of the 1,162 electric vehicle charging stations regarding the installation location (aboveground, underground) and the presence of fire prevention facilities, and prepare customized fire safety measures for each facility.

In addition, joint inspections with the Gwanak Fire Station will be promoted for multi-unit housing with fewer than 1,000 households and large stores with high foot traffic, which are not included in Seoul City's emergency inspection targets. The maintenance status of essential firefighting facilities such as sprinklers will be checked, and additional necessary fire prevention facilities will be inspected to minimize casualties from large fires.

In underground electric vehicle charging facilities within public facilities frequently used by many residents, 'smothering fire covers' and 'electric vehicle-specific fire extinguishers' will be expanded to prevent chain explosions caused by electric vehicle fires. Various equipment for fire prevention and response, such as ▲thermal imaging cameras ▲firewalls ▲upward direct water devices, will also be installed.

The smothering fire cover is a device to suppress initial fires by covering the ignited vehicle to prevent the spread of fire and smoke, and the electric vehicle-specific fire extinguisher prevents the explosion risk of electric vehicle lithium batteries, which cannot be extinguished by general extinguishers or water.

Furthermore, the district will conduct fire safety education for about 200 safety managers of multi-unit housing in cooperation with the Gwanak Fire Station. It will recommend adding a clause to the multi-unit housing management regulations to 'restrict access of electric vehicles with a charge rate of 90% or less' and will also focus on promoting electric vehicle fire prevention and response guidelines.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “During prolonged heat waves like these days, please be careful not to overcharge electric vehicles and make sure to learn the action guidelines in case of fire. We will do our best to promptly supplement the fire prevention and response system in facilities used by many residents by conducting an accurate survey and checking overall electric vehicle safety management.”

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