'Spring Fire Emergency' Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters Strengthens Intensive Patrols of Vulnerable Facilities

Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters is managing fire prevention for multi-use facilities.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] The Gyeongsangnam-do Fire Department announced on the 5th that it will implement spring fire prevention measures from March to May, when fires frequently occur.

According to an analysis of a total of 140,723 fires that occurred in Gyeongsangnam-do over the past five years by the Gyeongnam Fire Department, fires were frequent in spring, second only to winter.

The seasonal fire occurrence rates are winter (5,620 cases, 38.2%), spring (4,047 cases, 27.5%), summer (3,080 cases, 20.9%), and autumn (1,976 cases, 13.4%) in order.

The main cause of fires in spring was negligence (58.9%). The causes of negligence were burning garbage (28%), cigarette butts (19.7%), leaving embers or flames unattended (16.4%), burning fields or forests (9.7%), and cooking food (8.8%) in order. Following negligence were electrical causes (16.3%), mechanical causes (7.5%), and arson (0.5%).

The locations where fires occurred most frequently were forests or outdoors/roads (41.4%), residential facilities (21.1%), and industrial facilities (13.9%). Residential facilities included single-family houses, multi-family housing, and other residences (including vinyl greenhouses) in order.

Especially this year, to prevent forest fires, the fire department will focus on managing vulnerable facilities by establishing fire patrol routes using outdoor fire big data.

For multi-use facilities, the autonomous safety management function centered on related personnel will be strengthened. When related personnel attach photos or videos confirming fire facilities and notify the fire station of the results of self-inspections, the fire station will provide maintenance consulting.

The provincial fire department plans to reduce outdoor fires by strengthening preventive patrols centered on areas where fires frequently occurred over the past five years, attaching fire safety banners, and broadcasting announcements.

Kim Jo-il, head of the Gyeongnam Fire Department, said, "We will make every effort to minimize damage caused by fires during the dry spring season," and added, "We also ask residents to follow safety rules to prevent fires."