"Be Careful with Fire When Cooking"…Holiday Fire Warning During the Festive Season

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] During the holiday season, the use of fire-related tools increases due to cooking, which in turn raises the risk of fires. Additionally, due to the impact of COVID-19, more people are expected to spend the holidays at home, making special caution regarding residential fires necessary.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 20th, among fires that occurred during the Chuseok holiday period, residential fires accounted for the highest proportion at 36.8%. This was followed by fires involving automobiles, railroads, and vehicles at 12%, with living services, industrial facilities, and sales/business facilities following in order.

Among residential fires, 57.8% were caused by carelessness such as cooking food, electrical factors accounted for 21.1%, mechanical factors 5.4%, and arson 4.1%.

During the holidays, many dishes are cooked using oil, so it is important to cook at an appropriate temperature without leaving the cooking area unattended. If cooking oil, which is commonly used, overheats and catches fire, the first step is to cut off the gas and power supply. Spraying water at this time causes the oil vapor and steam to combine, and the water can carry the oil, causing the fire to spread. If overheated oil comes into contact with water and splashes, it can cause burns, so water should not be used to extinguish the fire.

Also, while powder fire extinguishers commonly used for oil fires may have a temporary effect, high-temperature oil does not cool down and can easily reignite, so it is advisable to have and use a kitchen fire extinguisher. If no extinguisher is available, covering the pot with a lid or a wet towel can be an emergency response method. Adding vegetables such as cabbage or lettuce can lower the temperature of the cooking oil, providing a cooling effect that may extinguish the fire. However, the moisture content in the vegetables can cause the flames to spread upon contact with the oil, posing a risk of burns.

Meanwhile, from 2016 to last year, an average of 253 fires occurred annually during the Chuseok holiday period over the past five years. In particular, last year, when the rate of spending Chuseok at home was high due to social distancing, the number of fires was higher than average at 258 cases. Prior to that, the number of fires during the Chuseok holiday showed a decreasing trend: 306 cases in 2016, 229 in 2017, 250 in 2018, and 219 in 2019.