Saturday morning’s fire at an apartment in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, claimed four lives and injured 124 with the death toll likely to rise as several of the patients are listed in critical condition.
While the cause of the fire has not been determined, it is known that the fire spread very rapidly in the 10-story apartment building ― the entire building was engulfed in flames about 15 minutes after the fire started ― and also spread to other adjacent apartment buildings. Three apartment buildings burned down while three more sustained damage.
The fact that the fire occurred on Saturday morning when many of the residents were sleeping may have contributed to the large number of injured and dead. The occupants also found it difficult to escape as the fire started on the first floor, blocking the exit for many who instinctively ran down the stairs. Many of the residents claim that they did not hear fire alarms, becoming aware of the fire only after they noticed dark smoke and the burning smell.
Although four helicopters, 70 fire engines and 160 firemen were deployed to the scene, it took more than two hours for the firefighters to contain the blaze ― the strong wind, close proximity of buildings and trouble gaining access to the building all contributing to the difficulties.
While the authorities say that the building codes were not violated, the three buildings were built very close to each other, allowing the fire to spread easily. The narrow road leading to the front of the apartment buildings made it hard for the fire engines to reach the spot, and the railway track running along the back of the buildings blocked rescuers accessing the buildings from behind.
Experts note that the lack of water sprinklers in the apartment units could have contributed to the large death toll. The current building code does not require water sprinklers in buildings 10 stories or less. It has also been pointed out that the outer walls of the buildings were not of fire-retardant material, allowing the fire to rapidly travel along the building’s walls.
In fact, the problems pointed out in the Uijeongbu fire are not new. The lack of fire lanes is a persistent problem that has been repeatedly pointed out ― in fact, virtually every time there is a large fire. The lack of water sprinklers and faulty fire alarms are also chronic problems. Not using fire-retardant building materials has also been blamed for many fires that spread rapidly.
As cities build vertically, high-rises are becoming the norm. If a fire in a 10-story building is hard to contain, what does it say about the safety of those living in apartment buildings much higher? The authorities should conduct a sweeping and thorough inspection of all high-rises for any violation of fire regulations and review the current building codes and regulations to make sure they are up-to-date. Instituting mandatory fire drills for both apartment buildings and office buildings should also be considered.
