Large Fire in Gwangmyeong City Apartment, No Sprinklers Installed
It has been revealed that there were no sprinklers installed at the site of a large fire that occurred in an apartment located in Sohak-dong, Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province.
According to the Gwangmyeong Police Station, a joint investigation team consisting of 33 members from four agencies, including police, the National Institute of Scientific Investigation, fire services, and the Electric Safety Corporation, conducted a site investigation from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the 18th.
The investigation team identified the ceiling of the disabled parking area in the piloti structure of the building's first-floor parking lot as the ignition point, stating, "An electrical anomaly was observed at the ceiling of the disabled parking area," and noted, "The cause of the fire will be determined after a detailed examination of the collected items by the National Institute of Scientific Investigation."
The investigation results indicated that there were no sprinklers installed in the first-floor piloti parking lot where the fire occurred, and it was confirmed that sprinklers were only installed in the basement level 1.
Legally Problem-Free, But a Red Flag for Safety
It is reported that the apartment was not legally required to have sprinklers installed.
The apartment was completed in 2014, and according to regulations at the time, only buildings of 11 stories or more were mandated to have sprinklers installed. Since this apartment is a 10-story building, it was excluded from the mandatory requirement.
Currently, regulations have been strengthened to mandate the installation of sprinklers in buildings of six stories or more, but retroactive application to existing buildings has not been implemented.
The fire broke out in the first-floor piloti parking lot of the 10-story apartment in Sohak-dong at approximately 9:10 p.m. the previous day.
Fire authorities completely extinguished the fire about 1 hour and 20 minutes after it started; however, the flames spread rapidly from the first floor to the upper levels of the building, resulting in significant casualties.
Three individuals were found in cardiac arrest and were transported to the hospital but ultimately died. Nine people sustained serious injuries, while 55 experienced injuries from smoke inhalation and other causes. Additionally, 28 individuals (13 households) have been displaced and are currently taking refuge in shelters.
The piloti structure refers to an open design where the first floor of a building is supported only by columns, without walls. This structure poses a risk of rapid smoke and fire spread to upper floors in the event of a fire.
Gwangmyeong City has established a dedicated task force (TF) to support the residents affected by the fire.
The TF plans to provide comprehensive support, addressing residents' basic needs as well as aiding in the recovery from psychological trauma caused by the fire.
Image source: Fire officials and police are conducting a fire investigation at the scene of a fire that occurred in an apartment parking lot in Sohak-dong, Gwangmyeong City, on the morning of the 18th. 2025.7.18 / News1, reference material for understanding the article / gettyimagesbank, Gwangmyeong apartment parking lot fire scene / News1
