Gyeonggi Fire Department's Swift Initial Response and Collaboration Shine in Anyang Medical Facility Fire

The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters quickly responded and systematically managed a fire that broke out at a medical facility in Anyang in the early hours of New Year's Day, successfully extinguishing the blaze without any casualties.

The headquarters received a report of the fire at 2:46 a.m. on January 1 and arrived at the scene within three minutes. At the time, there were over 320 patients and medical staff in the hospital, raising concerns about the possibility of mass casualties. Five minutes after arriving on site, at 2:54 a.m., the headquarters declared Response Level 1 and began their operations.

A total of 120 personnel and 49 pieces of equipment were deployed to the scene. In cooperation with hospital staff, evacuation routes were controlled to prevent the spread of smoke and minimize confusion at the site.

The headquarters attributed the stable response to prior collaborative training exercises conducted in advance.

Firefighters are extinguishing a fire at a medical facility located in Anyang. Provided by Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters

The medical facility had conducted multiple joint fire drills with the local fire station, and the evacuation routes and response procedures shared during these drills were naturally applied in the field during the fire, aiding the initial response and ensuring the safety of those present.

The headquarters also managed the incident in a multi-faceted manner by holding situation assessment meetings, sharing real-time updates from the field, and proactively blocking additional risk factors. The fire was completely extinguished at 4:20 a.m. that day, with no casualties reported.

Choi Yongcheol, Acting Director of the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters, stated, "This fire, which broke out in the early hours of the New Year, was resolved by 'prepared decisions that left no room for hesitation,' even during the most vulnerable hours. This response demonstrates that a command system based on initial judgment and prior training can effectively manage disasters when implemented together at the scene."