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Firefighters clear a collapsed roof at the scene of a fire that broke out in the live seafood section of the agricultural and marine products market in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, on the afternoon of the 9th. / Yonhap

More than 2,000 fires have occurred during the Chuseok holiday over the past five years. Fire authorities plan to conduct surprise fire safety inspections at traditional markets and lodging facilities, where crowds of holiday travelers gather.

The National Fire Agency announced on the 17th that it will implement "Fire Prevention Measures for the Chuseok Holiday" from the 26th through September 27, aimed at proactively reducing fire risks that can rise as travel and use of multi-use facilities increase during the holiday.

According to the National Fire Agency's National Fire Data System, a total of 2,077 fires occurred during the Chuseok holiday over the past five years, resulting in 9 deaths, 100 injuries, and about 22 billion won in property damage.

The agency will conduct fire safety inspections at multi-use facilities, including retail stores, traditional markets, warehouses, and transportation and lodging facilities. In particular, inspectors will closely check for issues most likely to cause casualties — such as blocked emergency exits, obstructed evacuation routes, and cut power to fire safety equipment — and require any violations to be corrected before the Chuseok holiday begins.

At traditional markets, the agency will strengthen self-directed safety inspections, including nighttime patrols by volunteer fire brigades made up of merchants' association members and shop owners, and will also check the operational status of fire hydrants, water reservoirs, and other firefighting water facilities and emergency fire extinguishing equipment.

At fire-vulnerable facilities such as nursing homes, long-term care hospitals, low-income rooming house districts, and residential greenhouses, fire station chiefs will personally visit sites to check safety conditions and provide guidance on evacuation procedures. For households leaving home for an extended period, the agency plans to advise fire prevention measures such as unplugging chargers for devices like personal mobility (PM) batteries and cutting power to unused electronics.

Song Ho-young, head of the National Fire Agency's Fire Prevention Bureau, said, "Careful advance inspection and prevention are important, but above all, everyone needs to pay a little more attention to fire safety," adding, "We will do our utmost to ensure the public can spend this Chuseok holiday free from fire risk."

                                                                                                         Kim Nam-hyung