SUWON — Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae on the 21st ordered officials to strengthen safety measures for firefighters battling blazes and to draw up plans to prevent fires involving hazardous materials.
Hong Eun-kwang, spokesperson for Gyeonggi Province, relayed the governor's instructions in a written briefing that afternoon.
Choo called for the immediate formation and launch of a task force on firefighter safety during fire suppression and on the prevention of fires involving hazardous materials, according to Hong. She directed that outside experts and front-line firefighters be included on the team.
She also instructed officials to conduct a comprehensive review of how hazardous materials are being managed and to establish measures to tighten oversight of unreported hazardous substances.
Choo asked officials to review and supplement the safety rules that apply to firefighters during fire suppression, and to verify whether those rules are being properly followed at actual scenes.
In particular, she ordered a thorough analysis of the cause of the factory fire that broke out in Bucheon on the 16th and of any shortcomings in the response.
Choo also ordered a full investigation into the death of a firefighter in the line of duty during the response to the Bucheon factory fire. She instructed officials to carry out a broad survey of conditions for firefighters and to prepare proposals for improving their working environment.