Jeju Fire Headquarters Issues Winter Heating Equipment Fire Warning

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Fire Safety Headquarters issued a "Winter Heating Equipment Fire Warning" on the 30th, anticipating an increased risk of fires caused by the use of heating equipment as winter begins.

According to the Jeju Fire Headquarters on the 29th, there were a total of 87 fires caused by winter heating equipment in the province over the past three years, with 43.7% (38 cases) concentrated between December and January.

There were 5 casualties (1 death, 4 injuries) and property damage amounting to approximately 440 million KRW. However, no casualties from heating equipment fires were reported last year, and property damage decreased by about 60%.

By location, fires in residential houses were the most frequent with 42 cases (48.3%), followed by stores with 13 cases (14.9%) and warehouses with 12 cases (13.8%), places where heating equipment is commonly used.

By type of heating equipment, electric heating equipment fires and wood-fired boiler fires were the most common with 24 cases each (27.6%), followed by household boiler fires with 22 cases (25.3%).

By cause, fires due to carelessness were the most frequent with 42 cases (48.3%), followed by electrical causes with 20 cases (23%) and mechanical causes with 12 cases (13.8%). It is necessary to strictly follow safety rules when using heating equipment.

Accordingly, the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters plans to strengthen fire prevention publicity by establishing a cooperative system with related organizations to spread safety rules for heating equipment along with issuing the winter heating equipment fire warning, and to establish a rapid response system in case of fire occurrence.

Director Park Geun-o said, "Since heating equipment fires often occur in places where people reside, they can easily lead to casualties, so special caution is required," and added, "Please carefully check the safety rules for each heating equipment to have a safe and warm winter without fire damage."

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