Seoul to install automatic fire extinguishers in 2,000 aging homes ahead of winter

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is stepping up winter fire safety measures, including distributing fire suppression equipment to vulnerable homes, conducting safety inspections at high-risk facilities and securing access routes for fire trucks. The centerpiece of the plan is installing automatic fire extinguishers in 2,000 aging homes and carrying out intensive inspections at 2,771 public-use facilities.

The city announced Saturday that it will implement its "2026–2027 Winter Fire Safety Measures" through February.

Of the 27,777 fires recorded in Seoul over the past five years (2021–2025), 7,522 — or 27.1 percent — broke out during winter months (December through February), the highest of any season.

Carelessness was the leading cause, accounting for 4,112 cases (54.7 percent), followed by electrical faults at 1,990 cases (26.5 percent). Together, the two causes accounted for 81.1 percent of all winter fires.

This winter, the city will distribute automatic fire extinguishers to 2,000 households — among those without sprinklers — where fire-vulnerable residents such as children, elderly people living alone and people with disabilities reside. The devices automatically release a fire-suppressing agent upon reaching a set temperature, helping contain fires in their early stages.

The city will also inspect fire suppression systems and evacuation and fire-prevention facilities at 1,000 apartment complexes without sprinklers. The importance of sprinklers was underscored by a recent incident: a capsule hotel in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, where a fire broke out on March 14 this year — a week before BTS's comeback performance at Gwanghwamun — had no sprinklers. One person died and 10 were injured in that fire.

Factories and warehouse facilities will be checked across 22 items covering fire suppression and alarm systems and hazardous materials management, while logistics facilities will undergo joint inspections with relevant agencies to verify sprinkler functionality and the availability of evacuation routes. The city will also strengthen response systems in areas where fire trucks have difficulty gaining access or where securing water supplies is constrained.

The city will inspect 60,192 fire hydrant installations and 2,579 emergency fire suppression units for operational readiness and take measures to prevent freeze damage. Plans are also in place to address chronic illegal parking and other obstacles that impede fire truck deployment.

Five high-performance water tankers capable of discharging water at pressures of up to 40 kilograms per square centimeter will be deployed by the end of this month to bolster firefighting capacity at high-rise buildings. Protective measures for residents who may have difficulty evacuating during a fire will also be pursued.

In areas with concentrated low-income housing such as single-room lodging districts, joint inspections covering fire, electrical and gas safety will be conducted. Facilities serving people with disabilities and the elderly will hold evacuation drills tailored to the needs of those with limited mobility, including wheelchair and bed users.

Intensive inspections of fire suppression systems and evacuation and fire-prevention facilities will be carried out at 2,771 public-use facilities, with safety management also tightened at traditional markets, construction sites and facilities handling hazardous materials. On-site surveys and consultations will be held at 576 construction sites of 2,000 square meters or larger.

During periods of heightened fire risk — including Christmas, the year-end and New Year holidays, and the Lunar New Year — the city will place personnel on special alert duty and pre-position firefighting resources in areas with large crowds.

The city has designated this month as "Fire Prevention Awareness Month" and will expand public outreach on the safe use of heating appliances and fire evacuation procedures.

"Even a small act of carelessness in winter can lead to a major fire, so it is important to identify risk factors in advance," said Hong Yeong-geun, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Fire and Disaster Headquarters. "We will push ahead without gaps in fire safety measures that work effectively on the ground."