0
Firefighters battle a blaze at Coupang Logistics Center 32 in Seoknam-dong, Seohae District, Incheon, on July 19, as the fire continues for a second day. / Yonhap News Agency

A fire at Coupang Logistics Center 32 in Incheon that caused 114 billion won in property damage is believed to have started with thermal runaway in a lithium-ion battery embedded in household goods. However, investigators were unable to identify the specific product that initially caught fire because the goods were severely damaged by the blaze.

According to the National Fire Agency (NFA) on Oct. 29, the Central Joint Fire Investigation Team reached the conclusion after conducting on-site inspections, forensic examinations of evidence and reconstruction experiments. About 30 experts from eight organizations, including the NFA, Incheon Fire Headquarters and the National Fire Research Institute, participated in the investigation.

After analyzing witness statements and closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, the investigation team identified a storage rack on the second mezzanine level of Building B's sixth floor as the point where the fire originated. Household goods containing lithium-ion batteries were stored there. An examination by the National Forensic Service (NFS) also confirmed the possibility that recovered charred batteries had ignited due to a breakdown in cell insulation.

The fire spread from product casings to packaging materials and nearby cardboard boxes before moving upward and along the building's exterior walls. It spread to the seventh floor and the rooftop restaurant on the eighth floor, as well as along Building B's exterior wall toward Building A. Fire authorities established a defensive line along a vehicle access ramp, preventing the flames from spreading to Building A and floors five and below.

The fire was first reported at 6:54 a.m. on July 18 and was completely extinguished at 8:35 p.m. on July 22, approximately 109 hours and 30 minutes later. A total of 917 personnel, including firefighters and police officers, and 255 pieces of equipment, including seven helicopters, were deployed. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries from smoke inhalation and exhaustion during firefighting operations. Property damage was estimated at 114 billion won, comprising 37.4 billion won in real estate, including buildings, and 76.6 billion won in movable property, including stored goods.

The building received construction approval in May 2020 and was therefore not subject to the strengthened fire safety equipment standards for large logistics warehouses that took effect this year. Based on the investigation findings, the NFA plans to revise firefighting procedures for large logistics warehouses and safety standards for battery storage.

The agency will first establish a defensive firefighting system under which firefighters can quickly assess whether a fire can be extinguished at an early stage and designate defensive floors and lines to prevent flames from spreading. To this end, it plans to introduce new fire response procedures for windowless-floor and complex-structure logistics warehouses.

The agency also plans to improve safety standards for storing lithium-ion batteries and products containing them. Considering the fire risks associated with battery charge levels, it will consult relevant ministries on measures to limit the state of charge of batteries stored in logistics warehouses to below a certain threshold.

"Logistics warehouses contain large amounts of combustible materials, such as cardboard boxes and packaging, so even a small ignition source can lead to a major fire," NFA Commissioner Choi Yong-cheol said.

"Businesses that store lithium-ion batteries and related products should pay particular attention to managing storage areas and detecting fires at an early stage. We also urge them to store batteries at lower charge levels whenever possible," he added.

                                                                                                           Kim Nam-hyung