Firefighter Extinguishes Truck Fire on Way Home After Night Shift

Use of powder fire extinguisher and fireproof clothing kept on hand
No casualties thanks to quick initial response
On the 13th, a firefighter also extinguished a fire while on duty in Iksan, Jeonbuk

Nam Ki-ju, a firefighter at Incheon Western Fire Station, is extinguishing a fire near Songnae IC on the Metropolitan Area 1st Ring Expressway in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Incheon Western Fire Station

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] A firefighter who was leaving work after a night shift witnessed a fire on the highway and quickly extinguished it.

According to the Incheon Western Fire Station on the 14th, around 10:13 a.m. the previous day, a fire broke out on a 1-ton truck driving near Songnae IC on the Metropolitan Area 1st Ring Expressway in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. Nam Giju, a firefighter from the Western Fire Station, was driving home on the opposite lane after finishing his night shift. Upon witnessing the fire, Firefighter Nam grabbed the powder extinguisher and firefighting gear he usually kept in his vehicle and immediately began firefighting efforts.

Subsequently, with the prompt initial response of the Incheon Namdong Fire Station and Gyeonggi Bucheon Fire Station personnel who arrived at the scene after receiving the report, the fire was completely extinguished within about 20 minutes. Although the truck was burned, causing an estimated property damage of 13.2 million KRW according to the fire station, the driver, a man in his 70s identified as Mr. A, quickly evacuated and was unharmed. A fire official stated, "Thanks to the quick initial response by Firefighter Nam and the police officers who arrived at the scene, the fire was safely extinguished without major damage."

Meanwhile, on the 13th, firefighters from the Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters also quickly responded after discovering a vehicle fire during a business trip. Fire Sergeant An Gukgi from Jeonju Wansan Fire Station and Firefighter Kim Garam from Wanju Fire Station were on a business trip to the Chungnam area around 12:39 p.m. on the 13th for a mid-inspection of a new ambulance. At that time, while passing near the Nonsan junction on the Honam Expressway in Yosan-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk, they discovered a fire in the cargo compartment of an 11-ton truck. They stopped their vehicle on the shoulder and used the extinguisher in their vehicle to suppress the fire. To prevent secondary damage, they also controlled traffic around the vehicle. The fire was completely extinguished without any casualties.