As of Last Year, 113 Fire Investigations Conducted
Most Fires Attributed to Electrical Causes or Carelessness
Aging Population in Jeonnam Linked to Safety Negligence
Dedicated Fire Investigation Team Established to Identify Root Causes
Public Awareness Campaigns Launched to Prevent Fires
Jeonnam police have recently been investigating the causes of fires occurring in the region and are carrying out various efforts, including the establishment of a dedicated investigation team to prevent them. Photo by Jeonnam Police
As a series of fire accidents caused by the improper use of electrical devices have recently occurred in the Jeonnam region, the police are struggling to come up with countermeasures. The dark side of an aging population has been identified as a major cause.
According to the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency on the 19th, the number of fire investigations in the Jeonnam region last year totaled 113. Of these, 68 cases (51.1%) were due to electrical causes, far surpassing half, followed by fires caused by carelessness (25 cases, 18.7%).
Specifically, for electrical causes, the main reasons for fires were the use of low-cost products without KC certification and insufficient safety management by managers or users. In the case of carelessness, most incidents involved burning fields, burning trash, and discarding cigarette butts.
Although there are some differences in the types of fire incidents, both causes are closely related to the lifestyle patterns of elderly residents in the region. In fact, in the Jeonnam area, the proportion of people aged 65 and over already far exceeds 20% of the total population. In some villages, the figure is well over 50%.
Some elderly people, due to financial difficulties, often use electrical devices that are not properly secured in an attempt to save money.
In addition, their relative lack of information about the use of electrical facilities means that violations of basic safety rules are frequently observed. Recent fires in Suncheon and Yeonggwang, where multi-outlet power strips were used beyond their rated capacity, are typical examples.
Fires caused by carelessness also frequently occur when elderly people living in rural areas burn trash or fields unnecessarily without proper safety precautions. In fact, there was a tragic incident this year in Damyang where an 80-year-old woman died after failing to escape when the fire spread while burning trash.
The Jeonnam police are currently improving various preventive systems to preemptively block similar accidents. Last year, they established a dedicated fire investigation team (four members) to focus on identifying the causes of incidents. In particular, they are working to uncover the substantive truth regarding the causes of ignition and arson or accidental fires. In addition, they are conducting fire prevention campaigns tailored to local conditions.
Choi Hyun, head of the Scientific Investigation Division at the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency, emphasized, "Fires start from a momentary lapse in vigilance, thinking 'it'll be fine.' Adhering to basic fire safety rules is the surest way to prevent major accidents and protect the safety and peace of residents' daily lives."
He added, "It is also very important to follow safety rules in everyday life. Only use products with KC certification, regularly check and replace old electrical wiring, and never use multiple electrical devices on a single outlet. With just a little attention, such as not burning fields, not discarding cigarette butts, and not burning trash on dry days, fires caused by carelessness can be sufficiently prevented."
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