A fire at a metal-parts painting factory in Bucheon injured eight people, including six firefighters, on Friday. The blaze began at about 8:38 a.m. in Nae-dong, Ojeong District, according to reports citing the Gyeonggi fire authorities. Fire crews raised the response to Level 2 at 9:09 a.m. as they worked to contain the flames.
- Location
- Nae-dong, Ojeong District, Bucheon
- Fire reported
- About 8:38 a.m. on October 16
- Injuries
- Six firefighters and two factory workers
- Extinguished
- Around 11 a.m.
The response was lowered to Level 1 at about 10:08 a.m. Crews brought the main flames under control by 10:22 a.m. and fully extinguished the fire at around 11 a.m. The operation drew firefighters into a factory where combustible materials and painting-related substances complicated the conditions.
Later reports put the toll at six injured firefighters and two injured factory workers. One firefighter was taken to a hospital in cardiac arrest but reportedly regained spontaneous breathing. Other coverage said two firefighters sustained serious injuries, although detailed medical assessments were not provided in the available evidence.
Flammable-material storage faces scrutiny
The factory reportedly held about 100 containers of flammable material. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the site had not received a fire safety inspection despite that inventory. Investigators will need to determine what ignited the fire, whether the stored substances accelerated its spread and whether storage and inspection requirements were followed.
The incident also raises questions about the hazards firefighters encountered after entering the building. Authorities are expected to examine the fire’s origin, the handling of dangerous materials and the sequence that left responders trapped or injured. Updates on the injured firefighters’ conditions and the results of the investigation remain the key points to watch.