Evacuating Only to the First Floor in Super High-Rise Fires Is Outdated... Gyeonggi Fire Department Holds Evacuation and Safety Drill on the 19th

On January 19, the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters conducted a "Super High-Rise Building Fire Evacuation and Safety Training" at 19 buildings across 4 complexes of super high-rise structures in the province, including Hwaseong Metapolis, with participation from residents and related personnel.

This drill was prompted by the high-rise apartment fire in Hong Kong in November last year, which resulted in 245 casualties. The purpose was to assess fire response capabilities in super high-rise buildings within the province and to strengthen evacuation skills.

Super high-rise buildings have the characteristic of rapid smoke spread during a fire, making phased evacuation to nearby "refuge safety zones" on residential floors critically important.

The Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters is conducting an emergency drill for fires in super high-rise buildings. Provided by Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters.

Accordingly, residents participated in evacuation drills simulating real-life scenarios, such as using emergency stairways and managing fire doors.

In particular, residents on higher floors evacuated to "refuge safety zones" located on intermediate floors of the building, where they carefully checked the locations and usage of safety equipment such as gas masks and emergency lights. They also took time to identify the locations of evacuation elevators and secure escape routes in case of emergencies.

Additionally, resident participation programs were held, including the establishment of "Our Home Evacuation Plans," as well as training on fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

The provincial fire and disaster headquarters plans to continue promoting fire prevention rules and emergency action guidelines to residents via email and mobile apps even after the drill.

Ko Moonsoo, Head of Fire Prevention at the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters, stated, "This drill will help shift the fixed idea of 'always evacuate to the first floor' in super high-rise buildings to a new safety awareness of 'evacuate after assessing the situation.' Going forward, we will continue to create a safe residential environment that residents can trust through effective drills and inspections."