Mapo-gu Installs 100 Additional 'Visible Fire Extinguishers' Throughout Alleyways

Selected Vulnerable Areas Such as Alleyways, Visible Fire Extinguisher Installation Completed by End of May...Reducing Casualties and Property Damage through Initial Actions by Residents during Disasters

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Mapo-gu (District Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) will install 50 "Visible Fire Extinguisher Boxes" and 100 "Visible Fire Extinguishers" in narrow alleys within the district, where fire suppression is difficult, by the end of May.

This initiative aims to strengthen initial response by residents in fire-prone areas and prevent large-scale fires. "Visible Fire Extinguishers" refer to extinguishers installed in prominent locations along main thoroughfares so that anyone can easily see and use them in case of emergency.

Since one fire extinguisher in the early stages of a fire can perform the role of one fire truck, especially in narrow alleys and residential areas where fire trucks have difficulty accessing, having noticeable extinguishers available for anyone to use can greatly enhance fire suppression efforts.

For this alleyway fire extinguisher installation, local community centers familiar with the area initially selected locations requiring extinguishers. Then, with consultation from the Mapo Fire Station, installation standards were verified and on-site inspections conducted, resulting in the final selection of 50 sites.

Each fire extinguisher box will contain two extinguishers. Since these will be installed in alleys with low foot traffic, and considering the potential for illegal dumping and related resident complaints, the top of the boxes was designed in an oval shape to blend with the surrounding environment.

Going forward, the district plans to make multifaceted efforts to prevent fires and minimize damage by regularly inspecting and managing the extinguishers.

Last year, the district installed a total of 39 "Visible Fire Extinguishers"?13 fixed and 26 portable?in the fire-prone shopping area at 365 Seogyo-dong, creating a safer environment against fires.

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, stated, "We will strive to secure the golden time to prevent the spread of large fires, protect residents' lives from fire disasters, and minimize damage. We will do our best to make Mapo a safe city free from disasters where citizens can live with peace of mind."