Bucheon factory fire raises suspicions that a “powder keg” of 180 containers was left unattended; Choo Mi-ae vows tougher enforcement

[Financial News] A large number of containers holding flammable materials were found piled up at the scene of a fire at a paint factory in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, which caused eight casualties, including firefighters. The factory had no record of having obtained a permit to handle hazardous materials, and a thorough investigation into its safety management practices, including whether the materials were stored illegally, is expected.
According to the Gyeonggi-do Fire Disaster Headquarters, a fire broke out on the morning of the 16th in a cleaning room on the third floor of a five-story metal-injection printing (painting) factory in Nae-dong, Ojeong-gu, Bucheon. The fire was completely extinguished after 2 hours and 28 minutes. At the scene, around 180 containers were found believed to have held flammable materials, including Class 2 petroleum products such as gear oil and cylinder oil, which are classified as Class 4 hazardous materials.
The problem is that despite numerous containers, including 20-liter ones, being scattered around the site, the factory had no record at all of having obtained a permit to handle hazardous materials. Under the relevant regulations, a permit from the head of the local fire station is required for Class 2 petroleum products when the quantity reaches 1,000 liters for water-insoluble liquids or 2,000 liters for water-soluble liquids. If the factory stored more than the designated quantity without authorization, it would have been keeping a powder keg in a “safety blind spot” missed by fire inspections. Fire authorities believe that materials stored at the site caused the flames to spread rapidly. They plan to analyze the substances and thoroughly investigate the actual quantities stored and whether the factory was required to obtain a hazardous-materials permit.
The factory was reportedly an “apartment-style factory,” with different companies occupying each floor. Its total building area was 362 square meters, below the threshold requiring sprinkler installation. However, an automatic fire detection system was installed, and the building management company is said to have submitted reports stating “no issues” to the local fire station following its own fire-safety inspections over the past three years.
Two firefighters in their 40s who were part of the first crew dispatched to fight the fire suffered serious injuries. One of them was taken to hospital in cardiac arrest, adding to the distress. Four other firefighters reported heat exhaustion and other symptoms, while two people associated with the factory also inhaled smoke, leaving a total of eight people with moderate to serious injuries.
Choo Mi-ae, governor of Gyeonggi Province, visited the scene after learning of the fire and expressed her sorrow, saying, “I thank the firefighters for their courage and dedication in responding immediately to this accident.” She added, “Factories like this are scattered throughout Gyeonggi Province, not just in areas of Bucheon where small factories are concentrated. We will immediately take measures to identify and crack down on businesses handling hazardous materials and strengthen preventive education.”
Relevant agencies, including the police and fire authorities, plan to conduct a joint on-site examination on the morning of the 17th to thoroughly determine the exact cause of the fire and whether any laws were violated, including in the storage and handling of flammable materials.
[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter