Fire Incidents Increase by 26% During Seollal Holiday Period Compared to Usual... Fire Agency Implements Fire Safety Measures to Minimize Fatalities

Focused Crackdown on Emergency Exit Closures, Damage, and Obstruction of Evacuation Routes... Strict Measures Planned for Violations Found

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The National Fire Agency analyzed fires during the Lunar New Year holiday period over the past five years (2016?2020) and found that fires increased by 25.5% compared to normal times, urging caution to prevent fires during the holiday period.

According to the National Fire Agency on the 21st, a total of 2,871 fires occurred during the Lunar New Year holiday period over the past five years, resulting in 148 casualties (35 deaths and 113 injuries). During the same period, the total number of fires over five years was 208,691, with a daily average of 114.3 fires, while the daily average during the Lunar New Year holiday period was 143.5 fires.

The locations of fire occurrences were non-residential facilities at 30.9% (888 cases) and residential facilities at 29.9% (858 cases). During the Lunar New Year holiday period, 82.9% (29 people) of fire-related deaths occurred in residential facilities, which is 25.7 percentage points higher than the 57.2% (954 people) of fire-related deaths in residential facilities over the entire five years. This year, due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), it is expected that families will spend more time in small-scale lodging facilities and houses, so special attention is needed for fire prevention in residential facilities such as homes.

The causes of fires were negligence at 59.4% (1,706 cases) and electrical factors at 18.4% (528 cases), similar to the overall fire cause ratios over the past five years (including the Lunar New Year holiday period). Over the past five years until last year, negligence accounted for 50.7% (105,731 cases) and electrical factors for 22.7% (47,458 cases) of fire causes. The time of fire occurrence was most frequent between 13:00 and 15:00, with 487 cases (17%).

Accordingly, the National Fire Agency plans to implement fire safety measures during this Lunar New Year holiday period with the goal of ‘minimizing fire-related deaths.’ From the 18th of last month until the 5th of next month, nationwide special fire inspections and surprise crackdowns are being conducted on fire-vulnerable facilities such as sales facilities and transportation facilities where many people gather. In particular, strict crackdowns are focused on violations such as blocking or damaging emergency exits, placing obstacles in evacuation routes, and disabling fire-fighting facilities, which can lead to casualties. Strict measures will be taken against any violations found during inspections.

Since the 7th of this month, emergency fire safety inspections have been conducted at COVID-19-related facilities such as residential treatment centers to prevent fires. Fire risk factors are being removed in advance, and maintenance of fire and electrical facilities, utilization of evacuation facilities, and the performance of fire safety managers’ duties are being intensively checked.

Additionally, before the Lunar New Year holiday, fire station chiefs nationwide visit facilities housing vulnerable groups such as jjokbangchon (small rooms or lodging villages) to provide fire prevention education to residents and inspect fire risk factors. Furthermore, from February 10 to 15, the day before and during the Lunar New Year holiday, fire stations nationwide will enter special alert duty. To enable proactive response, fire forces will be deployed close to major vulnerable targets, and readiness will be maintained to fully utilize fire forces in emergencies.

Nam Hwa-young, Director of Fire Policy Bureau, stated, "As the time spent at home with family during the holiday is expected to increase due to COVID-19, please pay special attention to preventing fires caused by negligence, such as not cooking food when away from the kitchen, and if your hometown house does not have a fire alarm, please take this opportunity to install one."