Rising Dangers with the Heat Wave... Most Electrical Fires in Jeju Occur in August

14 Casualties from Electrical Fires in the Past Five Years
Beware of Overheated Outlets and Moisture; Everyday Prevention is Essential

In Jeju, electrical fires occur most frequently in August, when the peak summer heat begins in earnest. This period sees a simultaneous increase in vacationers and the use of cooling appliances, which heightens the risk of fire due to power overload and electrical equipment malfunctions.

According to the 2025 Jeju Injury Surveillance Report published by Jeju Province on August 9, there were a total of 917 electrical fires in the province over the past five years. These incidents resulted in one death and 13 injuries, causing a total of 14 casualties.

In June, a tragic fire suspected to have been caused by a power strip occurred at an apartment in Gaegumdong, Busanjin District, Busan, resulting in the deaths of two sisters aged 10 and 7 (photo used for article illustration and unrelated to the incident). Yonhap News Agency

By year, there were 157 cases in 2020, 173 in 2021, 186 in 2022, 194 in 2023, and 207 in 2024, showing a steady increase each year.

By month, August recorded the highest number with 112 cases, followed by September with 91 cases, July and May with 87 cases each, and March with 79 cases. Fires that occurred during the summer months of July to September accounted for 31.6% of the total, highlighting a seasonal concentration.

The report analyzed that the main reason for the high number of electrical fires in summer is that "the use of cooling appliances increases significantly due to rising temperatures and humidity, placing a heavy load on electrical installations."

The leading cause of electrical fires was tracking short circuits, which occur when foreign substances accumulate around electrical components and cause sparking, accounting for 269 cases. This was followed by insulation short circuits caused by weakened insulation performance at 190 cases, unidentified short circuits at 171 cases, poor contact at 54 cases, and overload or overcurrent at 45 cases.

In particular, during the summer, the increased use of high-power devices such as air conditioners and dehumidifiers leads to more frequent short circuit accidents caused by damaged wire insulation and the accumulation of dust and moisture inside outlets. In addition, there are frequent cases where excessive connection of electrical devices to a power strip causes overload and sparking.

Joo Youngguk, head of the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters, emphasized, "Unplug electronic devices that are not in use completely from the outlet, and be sure to inspect and replace any outdated electrical appliances or wiring. Especially in summer, avoid daisy-chaining power strips, and above all, adhere to everyday electrical safety rules."

Jeju Province plans to strengthen public awareness campaigns and inspection activities for residents to prevent electrical fires during the summer.