Firefighting and Emergency Medical Activities Decreased... Increase in 'Bee Swarm' Dispatches

Last year, while the number of firefighting and emergency medical service activities decreased, dispatches for 'removing beehives' surged. It is presumed that abnormal weather conditions, such as prolonged high temperatures, influenced this trend.

The National Fire Agency disclosed the "2024 Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Service Activity Performance Analysis Results" on the 21st. There is an assessment that the role of firefighting in preparing for abnormal weather and new risks has become more important.

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Last year, the total number of firefighting activities was 4,680,701 cases, a 3.2% (154,292 cases) decrease compared to 2023. Fires occurred 37,614 times, down 3.2% from the previous year. Emergency medical service activities also decreased by 4.7% during the same period, totaling 3,324,294 cases.

On the other hand, rescue dispatches increased by 0.7% to 1,318,793 cases. A National Fire Agency official explained, "Due to record-breaking heatwaves, including a record-long 72-day tropical night, and abnormal weather, dispatches for beehive removal and similar activities have increased, causing rescue dispatches to rise every year." Although the number of rescue personnel decreased compared to the number of rescue dispatches and handled cases, this is also analyzed as an effect of the increased beehive removal dispatches. Beehive removal dispatches increased by 30.3% (70,643 cases) compared to 2023.

Among the causes of fire, the risk of battery-related fires has increased, resulting in a 31.4% (230 cases) rise in fires caused by chemical factors, totaling 962 cases. Although careless fires decreased by 7% (1,279 cases) during the same period, they still account for the largest proportion.

Park Geun-o, Director of the 119 Response Bureau at the National Fire Agency, stated, "Active public campaigns for fire prevention and efficient use of ambulances have yielded results," and emphasized, "As shown in firefighting activities, it is time to establish systematic strategies to respond to abnormal weather and new risk factors, so we will prepare proactively and respond scientifically."

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