Changwon Fire Headquarters Strengthens Electric Vehicle Fire Prevention and Response Measures

Introduction of Special Firefighting Equipment for Electric Vehicle Fires

The Changwon Fire Department in Gyeongnam is stepping up fire prevention and response measures as the use of electric vehicles increases.

According to the Changwon Fire Department on the 17th, out of 1,041 apartment complexes in Changwon City, 251 have electric vehicle charging facilities installed.

Electric Vehicle Fire Response Training.

Accordingly, to strengthen fire response, the Fire Department began introducing mobile flood tanks, suffocation extinguishing agents, and lower water supply monitors last year, and this year plans to introduce specialized equipment for electric vehicle fire suppression.

The specialized equipment for electric vehicle fire suppression can penetrate the electric vehicle battery case within 30 seconds using only water pressure connected through a fire hose, enabling battery fire suppression within 10 minutes.

The equipment to be introduced this time is expected to help significantly reduce casualties and property damage by enabling faster response in the event of an electric vehicle fire.

In addition to equipment introduction, the Fire Department will also strengthen public safety education by conducting safety inspections of charging facilities installed in apartment basements, holding safety training for related personnel, and distributing evacuation safety manuals.

Last year, the Fire Department completed safety inspections of 251 electric vehicle charging facilities installed in apartments and conducted focused training simulating fire situations in underground parking lots.

This year, the Fire Department plans to focus on fire prevention through electric vehicle fire response training and public awareness campaigns.

In particular, along with safety training for related personnel, various educational methods will be promoted, including online safety education using resident cafes so that all residents can be informed.

Kim Yong-jin, head of the Changwon Fire Department, said, “The use of electric vehicles will inevitably continue to increase to reduce ultrafine dust,” adding, “As the use of electric vehicles increases, fire incidents may also rise, so we will do our best to prepare and implement countermeasures.”