Jeju Fire Headquarters Enters Emergency Duty System in Preparation for Lunar New Year Holiday

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] The Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters (Chief Park Geun-oh) announced on the 25th that it will enter an emergency duty system from the 28th of this month to the 3rd of next month to ensure that residents and visitors can spend a safe and comfortable Lunar New Year holiday free from various disasters.

In the past five years, a total of 47 fires occurred during the special surveillance duty period of the Lunar New Year holiday in the province, with no casualties reported and property damage estimated at approximately 425 million KRW.

During the Lunar New Year holiday period, the total number of 119 emergency calls received (over the past three years) was 7,958, including 153 fires, 416 rescues, and 1,896 ambulance cases.

In particular, the number of 119 ambulance situation management calls during the Lunar New Year holiday period (over the past three years) totaled 2,357, averaging 170 calls per day (based on 2021), which is about twice the average of 85.12 calls per weekday (based on 2021).

The Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters plans to establish a proactive preparedness system by conducting special surveillance duty at all fire stations across the province and strengthening safety management of fire-vulnerable targets during the Lunar New Year holiday, minimizing casualties through active initial response.

Additionally, they will establish a 24-hour dispatch system centered on fire station chiefs for rapid on-site response and situation management, concentrate firefighting resources in the early stages of fires to minimize damage, and maintain a 100% operational system for firefighting equipment by inspecting fire trucks, personal protective equipment, and winter equipment in preparation for sudden heavy snowfall and cold waves.

To prepare for large-scale accidents such as fires at construction sites, joint special fire inspections are being conducted with related organizations (such as the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) targeting construction sites with a total floor area of 3,000㎡ or more (73 locations), and emergency fire safety inspections are also being carried out at logistics warehouses in the province (33 locations).

Fire prevention SMS messages are being sent to pig farms, key management targets, and fishing boat owners, and safety guidance is being strengthened for multi-use facilities and related personnel. The volunteer fire brigade’s constant support dispatch system is being established, and joint patrols of fire-vulnerable targets are being conducted simultaneously.

The operation of the 119 comprehensive situation room is also being strengthened to respond to large-scale disasters and surges in 119 emergency calls.

To prepare for surges in 119 calls, a call-back system for call management has been established, the number of emergency communication vehicles has been increased from 11 to 17, and additional communication personnel have been reinforced to establish a seamless situation management system.

The 119 Ambulance Situation Management Center provides 24-hour emergency medical services including first aid guidance, disease consultation, and information on on-duty medical institutions, hospitals, and pharmacies, maintaining a constant emergency contact system with emergency medical centers and institutions.

Park Geun-oh, Chief of the Fire Safety Headquarters, said, “We will make every effort to ensure a safe Lunar New Year holiday for residents and visitors through establishing a flawless dispatch readiness posture and 24-hour 119 situation management during the holiday period.”

Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil panax33@asiae.co.kr