On the 23rd, the firefighters' union released a statement regarding a fire incident that occurred at a villa in Sinan-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju in the early morning of the 11th of last month. Firefighters responded to the scene and knocked on each household's door, evacuating residents. However, since it was early morning, there was no response from six households even after knocking. The firefighters judged that the residents might be asleep or already exposed to smoke, and decided to forcibly open the front doors. During this process, the locks and front doors were damaged, and residents demanded compensation from the fire authorities. The compensation cost was 1.3 million won per household, totaling about 8 million won for all six households.

Fire in Villa Resident
Forced Opened the Door of the Burning Villa...
Demanding 8 Million Won Compensation Lawsuit

In response, the union stated, "This incident reveals the budget limitations of the fire authorities and the difficulties caused by the lack of fire insurance," and added, "This situation is not simply a financial issue but highlights the need for an environment where firefighters can safely carry out their duties to protect people's lives." They continued, "During the fire, the fire authorities attempted to evacuate residents, but for six households, the doors could not be opened, leading to the decision to forcibly open them," and explained, "The resulting compensation cost of about 8 million won cannot be covered because the homeowner has died and the other households did not have fire insurance." The union further argued, "Although these are incidental costs incurred in the process of firefighters doing their utmost to save lives, it is extremely unfair for individuals or specific agencies to bear this responsibility."

Additionally, the union stated, "Currently, firefighters can handle losses incurred during operations through administrative liability insurance, but it only applies in cases of mistakes, so this incident was not covered," and added, "Each local fire headquarters also has limited budgets, making it difficult to secure the necessary funds immediately." They further emphasized, "As firefighters, now national employees, carry out their duties to protect people's lives, a system is needed to reduce their personal burden," and called on the government to "quickly establish a special national fire fund so that firefighters can safely perform their duties."

In conclusion, the union stated, "Firefighters always dedicate themselves to the safety of the people. The government must secure the necessary resources through a special fund so that they can focus on their primary duties," adding, "It is time to recognize that this is not merely financial support but an essential measure to protect lives. Immediate national-level support is needed so that firefighters can perform their duties safely and effectively."

Firefighters Union "Incidental Costs Occurred During Rescue Process"
"National Support Needed to Reduce Personal Burden"