Gyeonggi Fire Department: 44.6% of Fires Caused by Everyday Carelessness

According to an analysis by the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters of fires that occurred in the province during the first half of this year, carelessness in daily life accounted for 44.6% of all incidents.

According to the provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters on July 30, there were 4,172 fire incidents in Gyeonggi-do during the first half of this year (January to June), marking a 3% increase (122 cases) compared to the previous year. The number of casualties increased by 4.4% (15 people) year-on-year, and property damage totaled 212.8 billion won, a 25.7% (43.5 billion won) increase from the previous year.

In terms of location, non-residential facilities accounted for the most fires with 1,702 cases, representing 40.8% of the total. This was followed by residential facilities with 1,108 cases (26.5%), and vehicles with 579 cases (13.9%). The leading cause of fires was carelessness, with 1,860 cases (44.6%). This was followed by electrical causes (1,220 cases, 29.2%) and mechanical causes (457 cases, 11%).

Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters Exterior View

The provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters will use the analysis of fire data from the first half of this year to implement response strategies for the second half.

First, in preparation for the increase in vehicle and outdoor fires after the rainy season, fires caused by carelessness during the dry autumn season, and fires due to overheating of heating devices in winter, the safety inspections of electric and heating appliances will be comprehensively expanded. In addition, intensive joint spot inspections will be conducted in areas with a high concentration of large commercial facilities and factories, along with vehicle fire prevention campaigns and outdoor safety promotions.

Kim Jaebyung, head of the provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters, stated, "Fires do not occur by chance; they begin with a momentary choice when vigilance is lost." He added, "In the second half of the year, we will launch a large-scale 'Eliminate Embers in Daily Life' campaign to establish a proactive response system that eliminates the seeds of fire in advance."

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