The Fire Agency will introduce a "large-capacity water spraying system" in Seosan, capable of spraying water equivalent to 26 large pump trucks this November. This system was introduced to the country in 2022, and it was solely deployed in Ulsan. The Fire Agency plans to expand deployment to locations including Yeosu in South Jeolla Province and the metropolitan area.
The Fire Agency revealed this plan for the expansion of the large-capacity water spraying system on the 4th.
The large-capacity water spraying system is equipment that can emit a total of 75,000 liters of firefighting water per minute. It consists of two pieces of equipment capable of discharging 45,000 liters and 30,000 liters of firefighting water per minute, respectively. This is comparable to the simultaneous firefighting of 26 large pump trucks, each spraying more than 2,800 liters per minute. The maximum spraying distance is 130 meters.
Utilizing this equipment can rapidly extinguish large fires. It was deployed in a fire that broke out at the United Terminal Korea oil storage tank in the Onsan Industrial Complex in Ulsan in February. At that time, the fire was completely extinguished approximately three hours after the incident was reported. Compared to the 17 hours it took to extinguish a similar fire at the Goyang oil storage facility, this represents a 14-hour reduction.
The Fire Agency plans to additionally introduce the large-capacity water spraying system in areas where chemical complexes are concentrated, similar to the Onsan Industrial Complex in Ulsan.
This year, a total project cost of 19 billion won will be spent to introduce the system in Seosan by November. The budget will be used to build equipment that can emit 45,000 liters of firefighting water per minute and to construct a facility to store this equipment. A representative from the Fire Agency noted, "The large-capacity water spraying system includes several devices such as the main pump, relay pump, submersible pump, and water spraying canvas, so space for storage is necessary."
The Fire Agency plans to introduce the large-capacity water spraying system in Yeosu by 2027. A total budget of 22 billion won will be invested in Yeosu. The plan is to deploy equipment of the same capacity as that introduced in Seosan, along with a facility. Additionally, the Fire Agency aims to pursue further introductions in areas like Namyangju in Gyeonggi Province and the metropolitan area.
Yoon Sang-ki, director of the Fire Agency's Equipment Technology Bureau, said, "We will prioritize citizen safety and establish a rapid and effective fire and disaster support system."