Seoul's Gangseo-gu district presented a citation Friday to a firefighter who prevented a major disaster by swiftly extinguishing an electric bicycle battery fire before it could spread.
The recipient was Lee Da-jun, 30, a firefighter with the Eumseong Fire Department in North Chungcheong Province.
Lee was off duty on Aug. 1 when, around 3 p.m., he witnessed flames erupt from an electric bicycle parked outside an officetel in Gangseo-gu, accompanied by an explosion.
He grabbed a fire extinguisher from inside the building and rushed to the scene without hesitation, spraying suppressant directly at the flames.
While fighting the fire, he simultaneously evacuated nearby residents, confirmed their safety, and then returned to battle the blaze a second time.
Lee said smoke continued to rise from the electric bicycle's battery even after the flames were out, describing the situation as tense.
He was modest about his actions. "As a firefighter whose duty is to protect the lives and safety of the public, I only did what was natural," he said.
The officetel where the fire broke out is home to about 300 households and sits in a busy area with adjacent shops and heavy foot traffic, meaning the blaze could easily have grown into a major fire.
Lee's quick initial response brought the fire under control before firefighters arrived on the scene, and no casualties were reported.
District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon said he had deep respect and gratitude for Lee's dedication and civic spirit. "I extend my deepest respect and thanks to Firefighter Lee Da-jun for his unwavering sense of duty and public spirit in rushing to the scene without a moment's hesitation," Jin said.
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