Gyeonggi Fire Department 'Detects' 98 Multi-Use Facilities with Fire Door Damage and More

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] 24% of multi-use facilities in Gyeonggi-do were found to be poorly managing fire prevention facilities, such as damaged fire doors.

The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on the 30th that on the 27th, they conducted a crackdown on the '3 Major Illegal Acts' targeting 410 multi-use facilities in the province, including lodging facilities, cultural assembly facilities (museums, exhibition halls, etc.), water amusement facilities, and training facilities, and detected 98 places (23.9%), taking action on 124 cases.

The 3 Major Illegal Acts are blocking fire prevention facilities, closing or damaging evacuation fire prevention facilities, and illegal parking or stopping.

In violation cases, one lodging facility in the province removed fire detectors and did not reinstall them, and another lodging facility was caught stacking a large amount of items on the stairs.

Damage to fire doors was also frequent. One cultural assembly facility in the province installed door stoppers, which are door fixing devices, on fire doors or removed door closers that allow the door to close automatically, and a sports center damaged fire doors.

The Fire Prevention, Installation, Maintenance, and Safety Management Act (Fire Facilities Act) stipulates that violations of closing or blocking fire facilities are punishable by imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 50 million won. Also, arbitrary manipulation of fire pump power control panels and receivers is subject to a fine of up to 3 million won.

Earlier, the Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters had announced that they would crack down on the 3 Major Illegal Acts at multi-use facilities in the province ahead of the summer vacation season.

This crackdown involved 530 people in 205 teams, including the headquarters, patrol teams from each fire station, and special fire investigation teams (each team inspected 2 places).

A Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters official emphasized, "Many poor facilities were still detected at multi-use facilities frequently visited by residents," and added, "Illegal acts that threaten residents' safety will be strictly punished according to fire-related laws."