Over 200 Debris Piles Reignite at Kumho Tire Factory... All Equipment and Personnel Withdrawn

Considering Direct Water Application by Destroying the Ceiling

Firefighters are spraying water as they carry out firefighting operations on the second day of the fire at Hotaiyeo Gwangju factory on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News

The fire at the Kumho Tire Gwangju factory has continued for four days, with authorities struggling to extinguish the remaining embers. Although the main blaze has been brought under control, it is reported that more than 200 piles of debris are reigniting, using tire materials as kindling.

According to Yonhap News and the Gwangju Gwangsan Fire Station on May 19, the remaining embers are scattered throughout the interior of the three-story factory building, which is divided into 36 sections, appearing like will-o'-the-wisps. It is estimated that over 200 piles of debris are concentrated within a 60 to 80 meter area from the original ignition point, which was in a corner of the factory's second floor.

The embers are reportedly burning by using piles of material made from thin, thread-like fabric rolled into circles as fuel. Even when this material burns, it does not turn to ash or decrease in volume; instead, it retains heat like coal and can reignite after some time has passed.

Authorities believe that even small accumulations of this material can cause chemical reactions that lead to reignition. As a result, they have attempted to extinguish the fire by dismantling the piles and have deployed excavators and firefighters inside the factory. The process involves excavators dismantling the piles, followed by firefighters with hoses extinguishing the flames.

However, during this process, early signs of structural collapse appeared, such as the floors and ceilings of the second and third floors sagging downward and the sides tilting. Consequently, all equipment and personnel were withdrawn. For safety reasons, authorities have determined that it is no longer feasible to fight the fire from inside and have switched to an operation that involves spraying water from outside the factory.

Nevertheless, the water sprayed from outside is reportedly not reaching the locations of the remaining embers, presenting limitations. Authorities are considering alternative firefighting methods and are also taking steps to consult directly with personnel who participated in past firefighting operations at Hankook Tire to gain practical know-how.