Most Fires During Lunar New Year Holidays Caused by 'Carelessness'... Food Cooking and Cigarette Butts Lead

Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters, Special Fire Watch Duty
Three Helicopters Also on Emergency Standby

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] During the recent Seol holiday period, a total of 59 fires occurred, with the majority caused by negligence.

According to the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters, the causes of fires during the Seol holiday were negligence with 27 cases (45.8%), electrical causes with 21 cases (35.6%), and mechanical causes with 3 cases (5.1%).

Among the negligence cases, cooking-related fires accounted for 10 cases (37%), cigarette butts 7 cases (25.9%), and unattended embers, flames, or sparks 5 cases (18.5%).

During last year's Seol holiday period, there were 4,066 patients who used the 119 ambulance service, with abdominal pain being the most common at 542 cases (13.3%), followed by back pain with 256 cases (5.3%), vomiting with 254 cases (6.2%), and traffic accidents with 236 cases (5.8%).

Meanwhile, from 6 p.m. on the 23rd to 9 a.m. on the 28th during the Seol holiday, the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters will implement a "special fire alert duty."

During the holiday period, 142 units of the 119 Life Safety Team and 151 units of the 119 Ambulance Team will be on standby across the city to respond to emergencies, and three helicopters from the Seoul Fire Aviation Unit will also be on 24-hour emergency standby.

Additionally, vulnerable areas such as traditional markets will be secured through preventive patrols to maintain emergency passageways, and preemptive guidance and crackdowns will be strengthened.