Battery Fire Training Sessions Drop from 50 Last Year to Only 9 in the First Half of This Year
Kim Seungryong, Acting Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, is inspecting a lithium-ion battery burned in the fire water tank at the National Intelligence Resources Management Institute fire site on September 27, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News
With the increasing number of devices equipped with batteries, such as electric vehicles and electric scooters, the number of fires and related damages is also rising. However, there are concerns that fire department training is not keeping pace with this trend.
According to data received from the National Fire Agency by Assemblyman Wi Seongon of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee on September 27, there were 296 battery-related fires between January and June of this year.
The number of battery fires has been on the rise, with 359 cases in 2023 and 543 cases in 2024. Considering that this year’s statistics only cover the first half, the total number of incidents could surpass last year’s figure. In the first half of this year, battery fires resulted in 2 deaths and 21 injuries.
Property damage amounted to 22.39033 billion won. Property losses are also increasing, with 22.83055 billion won in 2023 and 26.03742 billion won in 2024.
However, it was found that the amount of training conducted by fire authorities is not keeping up. The number of battery fire-related training sessions by the fire department increased from 25 in 2023 to 50 in 2024, but there were only 9 such sessions in the first half of this year.
Assemblyman Wi Seongon pointed out, "While property damage from battery and electric vehicle fires is increasing, fire department training is shrinking, resulting in a decline in response capabilities." He added, "We need to establish specialized safety measures and a professional fire training system tailored to battery fires. Only when we comprehensively equip personnel, equipment, and response manuals can we truly protect public safety."
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