The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) on the 6th shared safety precautions to prevent accidents involving heating devices, which are expected to see increased use as the weather turns colder starting in November.
Heating devices mainly used indoors in winter are boilers, while outdoors, stoves and charcoal are representative heating items.
Boiler accidents can lead not only to fires caused by overheating, but also to carbon monoxide poisoning if toxic gases are not properly vented or mistakenly flow indoors.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), a total of 810 boiler fires occurred over the five years through last year. By month, 91 cases occurred in November, showing an upward trend into December (126 cases) and January (128 cases). That is higher than the monthly average (67.5 cases).
In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) said that before using a boiler, flammable combustibles in the surrounding area should be cleared away. It also noted that users should check for blockages or disconnections in the exhaust pipe that emits toxic gases, as well as for corrosion or dents in the piping.
It is best to keep the vent in the boiler room open at all times so that harmful gases can be discharged smoothly. Installing a carbon monoxide alarm indoors is also helpful.
In addition, camping usage does not drop significantly even in November, when temperatures fall. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's National Travel Survey, November camping usage from 2020 to 2024 totaled 1,503,000 nights. While that is less than the highest month, July (3,481,000 nights), many people still enjoy camping despite the cold weather.
For safe camping, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) said it is safest to maintain body temperature with items such as sleeping bags or hot water bottles when sleeping inside a tent. If heating items must be used, ventilate frequently and install a portable carbon monoxide alarm to prevent accidents.
Hwang Gi-yeon, director general for Prevention Policy at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), said, "Before using a boiler, it is important to carefully check whether there are any problems and to make it a habit to inspect it periodically during use," adding, "When using heating items while camping, pay attention to ventilation."