Special promotions and the posthumous Order of Civil Merit, Okjo Geunjeong Medal, will be pursued for the firefighters who died in the line of duty at the scene of the seafood processing plant fire in Wando, South Jeolla.
The National Fire Agency said on the 12th, "In connection with the seafood processing plant fire in Wando County, South Jeolla, an accident occurred in which two firefighters died in the line of duty," adding, "We plan to honor them with the ranks to which they are promoted through special promotion, and we will pursue the posthumous conferment of the Order of Civil Merit, Okjo Geunjeong Medal, to commemorate the deceased's merits and dedication."
According to the National Fire Agency, the first report of the fire came in at about 8:25 a.m. that day, and firefighters arrived on the scene at about 8:31 a.m. to respond. The fire was initially brought under control at 11:01 a.m. and was completely extinguished at 11:23 a.m. A total of 138 personnel, including firefighting officials, and 45 pieces of equipment were mobilized at the scene.
Two firefighters died in the line of duty and one plant official suffered minor injuries, for a total of three casualties. To fight the blaze, seven personnel—four rescue workers and three fire suppression personnel—entered the plant's cold storage facility, when a rapid, unexplained flashover occurred. During this process, it is presumed that one rescue worker and one fire suppression worker inside were ultimately unable to get out.
The fallen firefighters are a person surnamed Park (44), a senior fire sergeant with the Wando Fire Station, and a person surnamed Noh (30), a firefighter with the Haenam Fire Station. The National Fire Agency said Park, appointed in 2007 and in the 19th year of service as a rescue worker, was a veteran who had long been active on rescue scenes. Noh, appointed in 2022 and a young member, was reportedly set to marry in Oct. this year.
The National Fire Agency and South Jeolla Province said they will do their utmost to pay respects to the fallen members. The funeral will be conducted with the South Jeolla governor officiating. The plan is to provide survivors' compensation and pensions under the public official disaster compensation scheme, and to honor them with the ranks to which they are promoted through special promotion.
The National Fire Agency will pursue the posthumous conferment of the Order of Civil Merit, Okjo Geunjeong Medal, to commemorate the deceased's merits and dedication, and will support burial at the National Cemetery. It also announced that it will prepare measures to support scholarships for children of the bereaved families and to provide assistance for psychological stability.