Starting Next Month, 'Vehicle Fire Extinguishers' Will Be Mandatory... How to Use Them Safely

From December 1, all vehicles with 5 or more seats
Remove the safety pin, hold the hose, and aim towards the fire

From the 1st of next month, all vehicles with five or more seats must be equipped with a vehicle fire extinguisher. Vehicle fire extinguishers are labeled as 'automobile compatible' and can be purchased on the market.

According to the fire authorities on the 24th, Article 11 of the 'Act on the Installation and Management of Firefighting Facilities' was amended on November 30, 2021, and with the three-year grace period ending, all vehicles must be equipped with fire extinguishers starting December.

A vehicle on fire. Photo by Yonhap News

In particular, vehicle fires occur due to various causes such as mechanical factors like engine overheating, negligence, and traffic accidents regardless of passenger capacity, so the installation obligation has been expanded to ensure prompt response even in fires involving 5-seat vehicles.

The presence or installation of vehicle fire extinguishers will be checked during vehicle inspections according to the Automobile Management Act.

However, the obligation to equip all currently operating vehicles does not apply. The installation obligation applies to vehicles manufactured, imported, or sold after December 1, and to vehicles registered under Article 6 of the Automobile Management Act due to ownership changes; it does not apply retroactively to previously registered vehicles.

The effectiveness of vehicle fire extinguishers applies not only to gasoline and diesel vehicles but also to electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are equipped with lithium batteries, which are difficult to extinguish once ignited, but small fires in the early stages can be suppressed with a vehicle fire extinguisher.

Vehicle fire extinguishers refer to those verified not only by performance tests of general powder extinguishers but also by vibration and high-temperature tests to ensure no damage such as component detachment, breakage, or deformation, and are marked with 'automobile compatible' on the extinguisher container surface.

Fire extinguishers for vehicles have the notice "For Dual Use in Automobiles" written on the surface of the extinguisher. Fire Department

General powder extinguishers without the automobile compatible mark and aerosol-type extinguishing devices are not legal vehicle fire extinguishers, so caution is required when purchasing.

The method of using a vehicle fire extinguisher is the same as a general extinguisher. First, pull out the safety pin, hold the handle, point the hose toward the fire, and spray evenly toward the flames.

Fire extinguishers play an important role in preventing the spread of fire in its early stages, but it is actually rare for cars to carry fire extinguishers.

According to the National Fire Information System of the Fire Agency, there have been 11,398 vehicle fires in the past three years, with the number of fire incidents and fatalities increasing annually. This averages 3,799 incidents per year, resulting in 27 deaths and 149 injuries.