Hwaseong Fire Station to Open March Next Year

The Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on the 1st that it will establish five new fire stations by the end of next year.

The regions where fire stations will be newly established are Uiwang, Hwaseong, Yangju, Gapyeong, and Yeoncheon, with Uiwang Fire Station scheduled to open in March next year and the remaining stations to open around year-end.

Currently, Gunpo Fire Station oversees Uiwang, Osan Fire Station oversees Hwaseong, Uijeongbu Fire Station oversees Yangju, Dongducheon Fire Station oversees Yeoncheon, and Namyangju Fire Station oversees Gapyeong, each operating substations in their respective areas.

The Fire and Disaster Headquarters is currently constructing a new Uiwang Fire Station building with three stories above ground and a total floor area of 1,270 pyeong, while the remaining regions are undergoing procedures including site acquisition and design.

These fire stations will be equipped with approximately 90 firefighting personnel to handle administrative, rescue, and emergency medical services, and 12∼14 fire vehicles will be deployed, with direct substations to be established.

Additionally, each fire station will have substations: Uiwang with 4, Hwaseong with 7, Yangju with 4, Gapyeong with 2, and Yeoncheon with 3.

Once all these fire stations are established, the number of fire stations in Gyeonggi Province will increase from the current 30 to 35.

The Fire and Disaster Headquarters is actively pursuing plans to additionally establish fire stations in Bucheon Ojeong and Yongin regions by 2010.

An official from the Fire and Disaster Headquarters stated, "Due to large land areas but small populations, regions without fire stations have been facing difficulties in fire suppression and emergency patient rescue; however, establishing new fire stations will help resolve these issues."