Fire Breaks Out at Masan Fruit and Vegetable Market Ahead of Peak Season ... Dozens of Stores Burned

A fire broke out in a warehouse at the entrance of the fruit and vegetable market in Masanhappo-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, and the fire department is extinguishing it.
[Photo by Changwon Fire Headquarters]

About ten days before Chuseok, a fire broke out in a warehouse at a fruit and vegetable market in Masanhappo-gu, Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, burning dozens of nearby stores.

According to the Changwon Fire Department, the fire started at 10:12 p.m. on the 3rd in a warehouse building at the entrance to the fruit and vegetable market next to the Masan Fish Market public parking lot in Masanhappo-gu.

As a result of the fire, 15 out of 28 stores in the market were completely destroyed, and parts of 13 other stores were also damaged.

Residents of nearby officetels and others evacuated in a hurry, but since the fire did not spread significantly, there were no casualties except for two people who suffered minor smoke inhalation.

The fire authorities who responded to the scene issued Fire Response Level 1 at 10:23 p.m., mobilizing 31 to 50 units of equipment and personnel from 3 to 7 fire stations under their jurisdiction, and deployed 104 firefighters and 38 pieces of equipment to extinguish the fire.

The fire was brought under control at 11:17 p.m., and Fire Response Level 1 was lifted at 11:27 p.m. The fire was completely extinguished at 12:05 a.m. on the 4th, about two hours after it broke out.

The fire authorities are currently investigating the exact cause of the fire and the extent of property damage.