Daejeon Fire Headquarters: 62 Fires and About 840 Million Won in Property Damage During Lunar New Year Holidays Over Past 5 Years

Fire Prevention Measures for the Lunar New Year Holiday
Strengthening Inspections and Public Awareness for Fire-Prone Facilities such as Multi-Use Venues and Traditional Markets

Photo by Daejeon City

Over the past five years, there have been a total of 62 fires in the Daejeon area during the Lunar New Year holiday period, resulting in seven casualties and approximately 840 million won in property damage.

The Daejeon Fire Headquarters will implement a 'Lunar New Year Fire Prevention Plan' from January 19 to February 15, ahead of the holiday next month.

Based on these statistics, the Fire Headquarters plans to focus its efforts on preemptively preventing fire risks during the holiday period and minimizing casualties and property damage.

First, intensive inspections will be conducted at multi-use facilities such as movie theaters and saunas, checking for blocked emergency exits, the presence of obstacles, and whether power valves for firefighting equipment are shut off. If any legal violations are found during inspections, strict measures will be taken, and any issues requiring improvement will be addressed before the Lunar New Year holiday.

To prevent fires in traditional markets, autonomous fire brigades led by merchant associations and shop owners will be activated, and voluntary safety checks will be strengthened through pre-closing safety inspections and the operation of 'Safe Day' initiatives.

In addition, for nursing homes and long-term care hospitals, where large-scale casualties could occur in the event of a fire, the Fire Headquarters will support the formation and operation of in-house fire brigades and provide training to ensure staff are familiar with their roles, thereby enhancing initial response capabilities.

Furthermore, the 119 Fire Safety Call system will be utilized to provide proactive text alerts in the event of a fire, and a promotional campaign for call registration will be conducted around Daejeon Station in February.

At the same time, fire evacuation training ('Check and evacuate in case of fire') will be provided to apartment managers and fire safety officers, and public fire prevention campaigns targeting citizens will be strengthened.

Kim Moonyong, Chief of the Daejeon Fire Headquarters, stated, "The period before and after the Lunar New Year is a time of heightened fire risk, so the active interest and participation of citizens is more important than ever. We ask everyone to join in fire prevention efforts to ensure a safe holiday for all."