Jeonbuk Fire Department Supports 'Fire Safety Vulnerable Groups'... 30,000 Won per Household

Eight Types Including Fire Extinguishers and Fire Detectors

The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Fire Department will implement the 'Fire Safety Vulnerable Group Support Project' until December to strengthen fire prevention and initial response capabilities.

According to the Jeonbuk Fire Department on the 14th, this project focuses on protecting groups who have difficulty evacuating on their own in the event of a fire and enhancing initial response abilities, taking into account the region's aging population and its rural, agricultural, and fishing village characteristics.

Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters

In particular, residents of towns and villages without fire stations will be given top priority for support, aiming to establish a more thorough safety network.

According to the Jeonbuk Fire Department, in the past four years, out of 52 fire fatalities in the province, 35 (67%) were aged 60 or older, and 33 (63%) were rural residents, indicating a higher fire risk for the elderly and those living in rural areas.

Furthermore, it is projected (Statistics Korea) that by 2045, 42.5% of the total population of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province will be aged 65 or older, signaling a rapid transition to a super-aged society.

This project is being carried out in accordance with Article 5 of the 'Ordinance on Support for Fire Safety Vulnerable Groups in Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province,' and the fire department plans to supply firefighting equipment and safety items to 15,270 households in the province through this initiative.

The support items include eight types in total: fire extinguishers, fire detectors, gas leak alarms, safety handles, anti-slip mats, rescue handkerchiefs, and more, with each household receiving support worth about 30,000 KRW.

Priority recipients are elderly people aged 70 or older, people with disabilities, and basic livelihood security recipients in areas without fire stations, and customized safety items will be provided considering the living environments of the elderly and disabled.

Lee Osuk, Chief of the Fire Department, stated, "To minimize casualties in the event of a fire, fire prevention and initial response are more important than anything else," adding, "This project will not be a one-off; after performance analysis, it will be continued as an ongoing project. We will do our utmost to ensure that vulnerable groups in the province can live in a safer environment."