Kumho Tire Plant Fire... Several Months Expected for Full Recovery (Comprehensive)

Fire Suspected to Have Started During Preheating of Tire Raw Rubber
Fire Authorities Deploy 96 Units and 262 Personnel
Fire Continues to Spread, Raising Concerns
Three People, Including Employee and Firefighters, Injured and Receiving Treatment
Gwangju City and Gwangsan District Provide 15,000 Masks
Lee Jaemyung: "Ensure Residents' Safety and Health"

Black smoke soared high into the sky due to a fire at Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant. Photo by Song Bohyun

It is expected that it will take at least several days to more than a week to fully extinguish the fire at the Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant. The production lines inside the factory have come to a complete halt, and it appears that it will take a considerable amount of time before normal operations can resume.

According to fire authorities and other sources on the 17th, the fire broke out at approximately 7:11 a.m. that day in the compounding process building at the Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant, located in Gwangsan District, Gwangju.

The fire is believed to have been caused by a spark from equipment used to preheat rubber, which is a raw material for tires.

It has been confirmed that about 20 tons of raw rubber, a key material for tire production, as well as various chemicals, were present in the compounding process building at the time of the fire.

When the fire first broke out, some employees attempted to extinguish it using fire extinguishers inside the factory, but they were unsuccessful and subsequently reported the fire to authorities.

Fire authorities issued a Level 1 response at 7:28 a.m., then escalated it to Level 2 at 7:59 a.m. At the same time, they deployed a total of 96 firefighting units, including 8 helicopters, and 262 personnel to the scene, making every effort to contain the blaze.

Firefighters are doing their utmost to extinguish the fire that broke out at Kumho Tire Gwangju Factory. Provided by Gwangsan District

During this process, one Kumho Tire employee was seriously injured, rescued, and transported to the hospital, while two firefighters were also injured and are receiving treatment.

Despite the efforts of the fire authorities, the fire continued to spread, and it has been reported that more than 70% of the initial plant building was burned. As a result, parts of the factory buildings have collapsed three times. Firefighters deployed at the scene had to make emergency withdrawals.

The exterior walls of most buildings surrounding the factory are made of sandwich panels, which has limited the effectiveness of water-based firefighting efforts. As a result, it is expected that the entire western section of the factory will be affected.

Due to the fire, all production lines at the Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant have been completely shut down. It is expected to take several months before normal operations can resume.

Administrative authorities are now providing support to prevent further damage.

Gwangju Metropolitan City sent out more than 10 disaster safety text alerts immediately after the incident and is sharing updates with citizens. In cooperation with Gwangsan District, the local administrative district, the city also took measures to urgently distribute about 15,000 masks to residents.

In connection with the incident, political leaders also expressed regret and called for national-level cooperation and support until the fire is fully extinguished.

Lee Jaemyung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, wrote on his Facebook page, "Since a fire has occurred at the Kumho Tire Plant in Gwangju, I ask that central and local governments work together to ensure thorough recovery and support," adding, "Please also provide assistance for health issues among residents and damage to surrounding areas caused by the release of large amounts of hazardous substances."

Kim Moonsu, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, also stated, "A fire has broken out at the Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant. I urge fire authorities and related agencies to mobilize all available resources to ensure the fire is extinguished quickly and to prevent any casualties."

Meanwhile, fire authorities have issued a national firefighting mobilization order in response to the fire at the Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant. The release of air pollutants and other environmental impacts resulting from this fire have not yet been confirmed.