BUCHEON — Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae visited the site of a factory fire in Bucheon's Ojeong District on the 16th, wishing injured firefighters a speedy recovery and pledging to strengthen prevention efforts and enforcement at workplaces that handle hazardous materials.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, Choo said, "I am grateful for the courage, dedication and hard work of the firefighters who rushed to the scene immediately when faced with this unexpected accident." She added, "But two firefighters were seriously injured, and one is in critical condition. It is a great shock and deeply regrettable."
"I wish them a quick recovery," Choo said. "Gyeonggi Province will pay even closer attention to their treatment and recovery and do everything possible so that the injured firefighters can recover quickly through medical care."
Choo noted the rapid response by the province's fire service. "Gyeonggi firefighters were dispatched within three minutes and stopped the damage from spreading," she said. She also said it appeared that the firefighters had evacuated workers first and were the last to leave the building when the accident occurred.
"There were volatile gas substances, like toxic fumes, and the flames appear to have spread quickly," Choo said. "That is why they were unable to evacuate safely in time." She added, "Even the firefighter who had been guiding the workers out ran back in to rescue a colleague who had not made it out."
"The firefighter was rescued, but was in such critical condition that cardiac arrest had occurred by the time the firefighter arrived at the hospital," she said. "Please pray with us for a quick recovery."
Choo stressed the importance of fire prevention in the wake of the accident. "What is always so regrettable about fires like this is that routine prevention work is extremely important," she said.
"It appears the fire started while thinner was being handled during a metal cleaning process, and that is what made the accident worse," she said. "The problem is that hazardous materials were being handled without proper authorization from fire authorities."
Choo pointed out that such small factories are scattered not only across Bucheon but throughout the province.
"These factories are spread not only across Bucheon's cluster of small factories but throughout Gyeonggi Province," she said. "We will work closely with the provincial fire headquarters to strengthen preventive education and prevention activities."
She said management of unlicensed handling of hazardous materials would be tightened in particular. "We will make sure cases of hazardous materials being used without a license can be fully identified," Choo said. "We will immediately take steps to inspect businesses handling hazardous materials in advance and strengthen prevention activities."
"As governor, I will fully exercise the administrative authority I have to ensure there is not the slightest lapse in prevention work," she said.
Choo closed by saying, "Once again, I am deeply grateful to everyone in the firefighting family. I wish a speedy recovery to the two firefighters who were seriously injured."