"Truck Catches Fire on Seongsan Bridge"... Off-Duty Firefighter Prevents Further Damage While Driving Home

Kim Junghyun of Seodaemun Fire Station
Quick Initial Response Prevents Further Damage

It was belatedly revealed that an off-duty firefighter, while driving home across Seongsan Bridge in Seoul, quickly extinguished a fire that broke out in a truck, preventing further damage.

On May 5, the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters (headed by Kwon Hyukmin) shared the story of Kim Junghyun (29), a firefighter from Seodaemun Fire Station, who extinguished a fire at the north end of Seongsan Bridge in Seoul at around 8:16 p.m. on April 28.

Jung Hyun Kim Firefighter. Seoul City

At the time, Kim was off duty and driving home. While passing over Seongsan Bridge, he witnessed a fire breaking out in the cargo bed of a truck that was stopped on the northbound road. As flames erupted from the truck’s cargo, three men, including the truck driver, were attempting various ways to extinguish the fire. They tried to put out the flames using a cargo net, but it was of no use; instead, the fire grew larger and sparks began to fly, creating a very urgent situation. Moreover, since the fire occurred during rush hour, traffic was heavy on the bridge, which posed a risk of additional damage.

A truck on fire above Seongsan Bridge. Seoul City

Kim quickly parked his car right behind the burning truck. Grabbing a fire extinguisher from his own car, he ran to the truck and rapidly brought the fire under control. Within less than a minute of Kim’s intervention, the major flames were completely extinguished.

An official from Mapo Fire Station, who responded to the scene, said, "When the fire crew arrived, the fire had already been largely extinguished, and with the truck owner, we were unloading the cargo to put out remaining embers. Thanks to the prompt initial response, there was no additional damage other than some soot in the cargo bed and partial loss of cardboard boxes."

Even after the fire department arrived, Kim remained at the scene to help with the final extinguishing efforts. Now in his sixth year as a firefighter, Kim said, "I believe that whether on duty or off duty, firefighters must respond immediately in dangerous situations. I was lucky to discover the scene by chance and be able to take action. I simply fulfilled my responsibility as a firefighter."