"Illegal Parking Blocking Fire Trucks... The Solution Is Radical Incentives"

The Fire Services Basic Act Allows Demolition or Relocation
Burden of Potential Owner Complaints and Claims for Reimbursement

"Destroying Vehicles in Front of Fire Hydrants? Possible in the US, Impossible in Korea"

Along with the growing fear of electric vehicle fires that spread rapidly once ignited, domestic and international firefighting activities are drawing attention to the forced removal of illegally parked vehicles that block the golden time for fire truck access. Unlike major countries such as the US and the UK, Korean firefighters find it difficult to 'push away' illegally parked vehicles.

Firefighters in New York, USA, breaking the window of an illegally parked vehicle to connect a fire hydrant

The Fire Services Act, revised in March 2018, allows fire trucks to break or move illegally parked vehicles that block access to fire scenes. Article 25 (Forced Disposal, etc.) of the Fire Services Act stipulates that "vehicles and objects that obstruct the passage of fire trucks and firefighting activities may be removed or relocated." Illegal parking refers to parking within 5 meters of fire hydrants or fire water facilities, or in fire truck-only zones. However, questions remain about its effectiveness.

This provision was introduced following the December 2017 fire at the Jecheon Sports Center in Chungbuk, which resulted in 69 casualties. Illegal parking was identified as one of the causes of the large-scale disaster. The fire authorities explained that during the response, only the command vehicle and pump truck could approach the scene due to illegal parking, while the aerial ladder truck had to take a 500-meter detour, delaying initial suppression and rescue efforts, which increased the damage.

The Fire Services Act, enforced in June 2018, included detailed regulations such as partial amendments to the forced disposal clause, compensation for losses, and the establishment of a Loss Compensation Review Committee. Specific procedures were established to provide property compensation if the vehicle owner suffers losses due to unavoidable forced disposal. However, illegal parking is excluded from compensation.

Nevertheless, on the ground, voices remain that firefighters are reluctant to enforce forced disposal due to concerns about complaints and compensation issues afterward. Since the amendment of the Fire Services Act, there have been only four cases of forced disposal in six years. This contrasts with a survey by the National Fire Research Institute, where 44.3% of respondents said that in more than three out of ten dispatches, situations requiring forced disposal occur.

A fire truck passing through a narrow alleyway

Professor Gong Ha-seong of the Department of Fire and Disaster Prevention at Woosuk University explained the difficulty of applying forced disposal in the field, saying, "They cannot properly enforce forced disposal because they may be troubled by complaints. Although they can get help from lawyers when complaints arise, it becomes difficult to focus on firefighting duties due to report writing and other tasks."

The National Fire Research Institute's survey also identified the main reason forced disposal is rarely carried out on-site as the "administrative and procedural burden in the post-processing stage." Specifically, this includes the burden of vehicle owners filing complaints, the possibility of claims for damages if the firefighter is found at fault, and additional tasks such as preparing related evidence.

Professor Gong proposed the introduction of an "incentive system" as a solution to activate forced disposal. He emphasized, "When illegally parked vehicles are forcibly removed and firefighters arrive quickly at fire or emergency scenes, very exceptional incentives should be given." He added, "For example, giving performance bonuses or promotion points. Additional legal provisions should be created or internal regulations within fire stations should be applied."