A fire broke out at a metal processing factory in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang, causing about 1.4 billion won in property damage. Twelve employees evacuated urgently, and there were no casualties.
According to the National Fire Agency on the 29th, at about 6:52 p.m. that day, a fire of unknown cause broke out at a metal processing manufacturing plant in Jinrye-myeon, Gimhae, South Gyeongsang.
Six minutes after the call, at 6:58 p.m., the first-response unit arrived at the scene, and at 7:12 p.m., "response level 1," which mobilizes all personnel and equipment of the jurisdictional fire station, was issued.
With concerns the blaze could spread, it was elevated to "response level 2" at 7:24 p.m., and additional personnel and equipment from five to six nearby fire stations were deployed.
Embers also spread to a hillside near the factory, and Gimhae City and the forest fire suppression team were dispatched to the scene to work with fire authorities on extinguishing efforts.
Currently, 69 firefighters and 24 pieces of equipment are engaged in suppression work at the scene.
As smoke spread with the wind to nearby areas, 17 fire-related reports were filed. The National Fire Agency activated a situation response team and dispatched an on-site situation manager to carry out suppression and safety management.
Fire authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, and no casualties have been confirmed.
A fire authority official said, "Depending on the type, nonferrous metals can explode when they come into contact with water, and to make matters worse, the fire spread to a nearby hillside, so it looks like it will take time to fully contain it."