Gyeonggi Province Launches Fire Safety Inspections and System Improvements Following Incheon Logistics Center Fire

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gapdong] In response to the fire at the Incheon Coupang logistics center, Gyeonggi Province will conduct emergency fire safety inspections of large logistics warehouses within the province and strengthen fire safety systems and on-site response capabilities.

Taking the large logistics center fire that occurred in Incheon on the 18th as an opportunity, the province held an emergency response meeting regarding the Incheon Coupang logistics center fire on that day, presided over by Governor Choo Mi-ae, to comprehensively inspect fire risk factors at large logistics warehouses in Gyeonggi Province and strengthen the fire safety management system from prevention to response.

Following the meeting results, the Gyeonggi Provincial Fire Department will prioritize inspections of 15 Coupang logistics warehouses with a total floor area of 100,000㎡ or more, and subsequently expand inspections to 41 special-class fire safety management facilities and 432 class-1 facilities with a total floor area of 15,000㎡ or more.

The inspections will focus on checking △compliance with battery and hazardous materials storage and handling standards △maintenance status of fire prevention facilities △safety management systems of relevant personnel. In addition, inspections will broadly examine not only compliance with legal standards but also matters requiring improvement in light of the latest safety standards and potential risk factors in the field, with plans to disclose the inspection results to residents.

Additionally, the province will analyze the fire vulnerability of mezzanine rack structures, which have been increasingly utilized in recent large logistics warehouses, fire spread characteristics, limitations in fire department accessibility and firefighting operations, and formulate improvement measures based on this analysis. Based on these measures, the province plans to recommend legal and institutional improvements to strengthen logistics warehouse fire safety standards to the National Assembly and central government.

Governor Choo Mi-ae stated, "This matter is related to life and safety, and for matters essential to fire safety, it is necessary to establish reasonable standards and amend the law to enable retroactive application and expand government support," emphasizing the need for measures to be prepared at the level of the central government and the National Assembly.

Furthermore, the province will strengthen on-site response systems as well. Fire department chiefs will conduct intensive on-site safety guidance, emergency fire safety investigations, and concentrated fire safety education for relevant personnel, while establishing emergency contact systems between logistics warehouse representatives and safety managers.

In particular, the province plans to expand customized training utilizing recent fire cases and include newly constructed logistics warehouses in prevention-focused fire safety management targets, continuing to strengthen safety management.

Governor Choo Mi-ae stated, "While the recent large logistics warehouse fire in Incheon did not result in direct loss of life, it was an accident that caused great anxiety and inconvenience to residents' daily lives," and added, "Gyeonggi Province will swiftly improve risk factors identified through these on-site inspections and work closely with the National Assembly and government to actively pursue necessary institutional improvements, further strengthening the fire safety system so that residents can go about their daily lives with peace of mind."