Yongsan-gu Installs Fire Extinguishing Devices for Electric Vehicle Fires at 12 Public Parking Lots

Plans to Add Infrared Cameras and More Through Next Year's Budget Allocation

Yongsan-gu employees are demonstrating how to use a fire suffocation cover. Provided by Yongsan-gu.

Yongsan-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Park Hee-young) announced on the 19th that it has completed the installation of fire extinguishing devices, including suffocation fire extinguishing covers, at 12 public parking lots in the area.

The suffocation fire extinguishing cover is a fire-fighting device that covers the entire vehicle with a non-combustible fabric in the event of an electric vehicle fire. It blocks air inflow and prevents toxic gases and fire spread, thereby preventing secondary damage.

The district installed suffocation fire extinguishing covers at seven building-type public parking lots where initial fire spread prevention is necessary, including Itaewon 2-dong and Hannam Reservoir public parking lots. Fifteen lithium battery-specific fire extinguishers were placed at all 12 public parking lots equipped with electric vehicle charging zones. The seven locations with suffocation fire extinguishing covers and the electronics market 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th, as well as Hangang-ro 2-ga (on-street) public parking lots, are the targets.

The storage boxes for the suffocation fire extinguishing covers are also equipped with fire response suits, heat-resistant gloves, smoke-proof goggles, and smoke-proof masks. In case of fire, all equipment is worn, and the cover is used in three steps by a two-person team: unfolding the cover, covering the vehicle, and sealing the cover tightly.

The district provided training on the use of suffocation fire extinguishing covers to employees of the Yongsan-gu Facilities Management Corporation, the agency managing the public parking lots, so they can respond quickly to fires. Next year, the district plans to install fire extinguishing devices suitable for the conditions of public parking lots, such as thermal imaging cameras (or cameras dedicated to charging stations), flame detection sensors, and additional suffocation fire extinguishing covers, to respond to electric vehicle fires.

Electric vehicle fires exhibit thermal runaway phenomena where battery temperatures rapidly rise above 1000 degrees Celsius. Since the battery is located under the vehicle and covered with a protective pack that prevents water penetration, extinguishing takes more than three times longer compared to fires in regular vehicles. This is why special fire extinguishing equipment like suffocation fire extinguishing covers is necessary for initial response.

District Mayor Park Hee-young stated, “It is important to prevent human and material damage caused by fire accidents during charging,” and added, “We will continue to establish fire-fighting facilities in line with the increasing trend of electric vehicle users to ensure safe use of public parking lots.”

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