Fire Agency Promotes Customized Fire Prevention Measures for Traditional Markets

The National Fire Agency announced on the 14th that it will analyze the current status of fires in traditional markets and implement customized fire prevention measures to prevent fires in traditional markets.

According to data from the National Fire Statistics System of the National Fire Agency, a total of 285 fires occurred in traditional markets over the past five years (2018?2022), resulting in 28 injuries and property damage amounting to 82 billion KRW. By cause of fire, electrical factors such as overload, overcurrent, and wire damage accounted for the largest share at 44.6% (127 cases), followed by negligence such as food cooking at 34.4% (98 cases), and mechanical factors at 7.4% (21 cases).

In response, considering the high number of fires caused by electrical factors and negligence, as well as the high risk of large-scale fires during late-night hours, the National Fire Agency will promote customized fire prevention measures for traditional markets. First, autonomous fire brigades centered on merchant associations will be organized in each traditional market to check safety facilities such as whether electrical switches and gas valves are turned off after business hours, and during the vulnerable late-night hours (10:00 PM to 4:00 AM), surveillance activities will be conducted to strengthen fire vigilance.

Additionally, to activate voluntary store inspections and raise merchants’ safety awareness, a "Safe Day" campaign will be held every Wednesday. Market merchants will conduct safety inspections using voluntary inspection checklists, and fire stations will provide fire safety consulting tailored to the characteristics of each store.

Furthermore, each provincial fire headquarters plans to actively guide voluntary safety inspections to revitalize the autonomous safety management system in traditional markets, and provide incentives such as budget support and awards to traditional markets recognized as excellent through evaluations like competitions.

Finally, fire stations will conduct joint fire safety inspections with related agencies in electricity, gas, and construction to eliminate fire risk factors in advance, and conduct fire response drills in traditional markets to enhance fire response capabilities.

Park Seong-yeol, head of the Fire Prevention Division at the National Fire Agency, said, “Due to the nature of traditional markets, small sparks can easily lead to large fires, so merchants’ minor attention is crucial for fire prevention,” urging active participation in fire prevention and safety inspections by traditional market stakeholders, including voluntary safety checks by each store.