Reported "Fire"... 903 Butane Gas Canisters Found in Downstairs Apartment

Arrested Three Times in the Past on Charges of Inhaling Butane Gas

903 disposable butane gas canisters found at the apartment fire site in Jung-gu, Daejeon City on the 27th of last month. / Photo by Daejeon Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Inside a residence in an apartment in Jung-gu, Daejeon, where a fire broke out late at night, 890 empty butane gas canisters and 13 unused canisters were found.

On the 3rd, according to the Daejeon Jungbu Police Station, the police urgently arrested a man in his 50s, Mr. A, on charges of arson and inhalation of hallucinogenic substances, and after detaining him, sent him to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment.

Earlier, at around 1:38 a.m. on the 27th of last month, a fire broke out in an apartment in Jung-gu, Daejeon, prompting about 30 residents to evacuate urgently.

The 119 fire brigade, dispatched after receiving the report, extinguished the fire in 16 minutes, but 8㎡ inside the apartment and household goods were burned, causing property damage estimated at 5.8 million won (according to the fire department).

Police who entered Mr. A's residence discovered 903 butane gas canisters. In the kitchen area, a burnt portable burner and exploded butane gas canisters were also found. The police and fire authorities estimate that the fire started from the portable burner.

Mr. A had been arrested three times earlier in January on charges of inhaling butane gas, and recently was detained for inhaling over 100 butane gas canisters, receiving a suspended sentence for imprisonment. At the time of the fire, Mr. A was under probation.

Mr. A stated that "I put a pot on the burner to cook ramen and took a bath, but when I came out, the fire had spread around. I was surprised and evacuated."

A police official said, "Although he denies the inhalation charges, considering his past record, the charges were applied and he was sent to prosecution," adding, "He claimed to have used it for heating and cooking, but it was also confirmed that he continuously used city gas."