Gwangju Eastern Fire Station Urges Caution Over Winter Heating Appliance Fire Risks

Gwangju Eastern Fire Station has urged citizens to exercise extra caution, warning that the risk of fire is increasing as the use of heating appliances rises during the winter season.

According to the Eastern Fire Station on January 6, there were a total of 4,154 safety accidents related to heating appliances over the past five years (2020-2024). Among these, electric blankets and electric pads accounted for the largest share at 64.2% (2,666 cases), followed by hot water mats at 16.5% (684 cases), and electric heaters (stoves) at 6.6% (276 cases).

Many fires involving electric blankets and pads occurred due to overheating when used with latex mattresses or thick comforters. For electric heaters, a significant number of accidents were caused by sparks resulting from damaged heating wires. In the case of hot water mats, a large proportion of safety accidents were related to product defects.

In response, the Eastern Fire Station advised the public to: ▲ use KC-certified products ▲ avoid using heating devices with flammable materials such as those made of latex ▲ refrain from prolonged use and unplug devices when not in use ▲ and store appliances in a way that prevents heating wires or cords from bending.

Kim Youngil, Chief of the Eastern Fire Station, stated, "Even minor negligence when using heating appliances can lead to major fires," and urged, "Please follow basic safety rules to ensure a safe winter."