Exterior view of the livestock barn building recently destroyed by fire. Provided by Chungnam Province
[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] It has been reported that eight fires occurred consecutively this month in livestock barns within Chungnam Province. Most of these fires were caused by electrical factors during the use of heating devices in winter, prompting fire authorities to urge caution when using heating equipment.
According to the Chungnam Fire Headquarters on the 20th, as of the 18th, six fires occurred in pig barns and two in chicken coops within Chungnam.
The fires were reported on the following dates and locations: on the 2nd in a pig barn in Daechi-myeon, Cheongyang-gun; on the 7th in pig barns in Cheongso-myeon, Boryeong City, and poultry farms in Hongseong and Yesan-gun; on the 10th in pig barns in Godae-myeon, Dangjin City, and Bibong-myeon, Cheongyang-gun; on the 12th in a pig barn in Sunseong-myeon, Dangjin City; and on the 13th in a pig barn in Tancheon-myeon, Gongju City.
The Chungnam Fire Headquarters analyzes that these fires were caused by overheating and electrical factors due to increased usage time of electric heating devices during the cold wave in winter.
In fact, over the past five years, a total of 335 fires have occurred in livestock barns (pig barns, cow barns, chicken coops) in Chungnam, averaging 67 fires annually. Analysis of fire causes showed electrical factors at 45%, negligence at 18%, and mechanical factors at 15%, in that order.
Accordingly, the Chungnam Fire Headquarters urges each livestock barn to prevent overheating of electric heating devices and to immediately replace old outlets and plugs with new ones to prevent winter barn fires.
They also emphasize the need to frequently check the condition of wire insulation inside and outside the barns and the operation of leakage circuit breakers, as well as regularly remove dust or cobwebs around electrical equipment.
Oh Geun-hwan, Situation Analysis Team Leader of the 119 Comprehensive Situation Room at Chungnam Fire Headquarters, said, “To prevent winter barn fires, it is most important for those involved with the barns to frequently inspect both the interior and exterior of the barns and to take an active interest in fire prevention.”
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