Prolonged Fire Suppression at Icheon Coupang Logistics Center... One Firefighter Trapped

Fire Initially Controlled in the Morning, Flames Flare Up Again

On the 17th, the Coupang Deokpyeong Logistics Center fire site in Majang-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do is covered in smoke. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A fire broke out at the Coupang Deokpyeong Logistics Center located in Icheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, and the flames have been difficult to control, causing growing concern. In particular, one firefighter who was extinguishing the fire became trapped inside the burning building.

According to the fire authorities on the 17th, the fire started at around 5:36 a.m. at the Coupang Deokpyeong Logistics Center in Majang-myeon, Icheon-si. The fire department issued a “Response Level 2” alert 20 minutes after receiving the report, mobilizing personnel and equipment from the jurisdictional and neighboring fire stations to fight the fire.

The fire department deployed 152 personnel and 60 pieces of equipment and managed to control the major flames at around 8:19 a.m., approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes after the fire broke out. Following this, the fire authorities began mop-up operations and gradually lifted the alert levels.

However, at around 11:50 a.m., the flames flared up again inside the building. Firefighters engaged in extinguishing operations were ordered to evacuate urgently and moved outside. During this process, Fire Captain A (52) of the Gwangju Fire Station 119 Rescue Team entered the basement level 2 of the building with four colleagues to conduct a search for survivors but became trapped alone. Of the four who entered, three evacuated, and one was rescued in an exhausted state and transported to a hospital.

At around 12:14 p.m., the fire authorities reissued the Response Level 2 alert and deployed about 300 personnel and 130 pieces of equipment to continue firefighting and rescue operations for Fire Captain A, but the flames have yet to be fully controlled.

The fire started in the basement level 2 of the logistics center building, which has 4 floors above ground and a total floor area of 127,178.58 square meters. Analysis of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed sparks coming from an electrical outlet installed above the display shelves in the basement level 2 storage area.

At the time the fire initially broke out, 248 employees were working in the area. All of them evacuated safely, and there were no casualties among the staff. The police and fire authorities plan to conduct a thorough investigation of the fire’s cause through on-site inspections once the firefighting operations are completed. The Coupang Deokpyeong Logistics Center handles general products except for fresh food.