〈Anchor〉

Details are gradually emerging about the causes that exacerbated the tragic casualties among firefighters. During a joint on-site inspection of the fire scene today (October 17), more than 180 containers of flammable substances were discovered. Authorities estimate that the fire spread rapidly after oil-mixed vapor ignited.

Reporting by Lee Tae-gwon.

〈Reporter〉

Investigators in protective gear enter the fire-damaged building.

A team of about 20 investigators from four agencies—including the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, fire authorities, the National Forensic Service, and the Korea Safety Technology Corporation—conducted a joint inspection at the Bucheon factory fire site starting at 9:30 AM.

The inspection was aimed at verifying the cause and spread of the fire, which resulted in a total of eight casualties, including the late Firefighter Kim Jin-seok.

The inspection team found around 180 containers filled with flammable substances such as thinner at the scene. The team stated, "Some were left open," and presumed that the fire broke out when the vapor ignited.

[Kim Hyo-sung / Head of the Scientific Investigation Unit, Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency: It contains a component called toluene, which generates oil vapor. We consider it most likely that static electricity, micro-electricity, or a spark caused by frictional heat ignited the vapor....]

In particular, the storage area for the thinner was located just 1 to 2 meters away from the metal cleaning room on the third floor where the fire broke out.

There is a possibility that the scale of the fire grew rapidly after the flames spread to the thinner containers following the arrival of the initial two-person response team, which included the late Firefighter Kim Jin-seok, on the third floor.

[Kong Ha-sung / Professor of Fire Protection Engineering, Woosuk University: Oil vapor continuously escapes and settles on the floor, accumulating over time. If an ignition source triggers an explosion in that cleaning room under such conditions, a momentary explosion can instantly sweep across the entire room....]

When it was confirmed at 9:09 AM that the two officers were trapped, a rapid intervention team was deployed. However, due to the massive flames and thick smoke, rescue and transport were not completed until 9:38 AM, 29 minutes later.

[Kwon Young-gak / Head of the Fire Labor Union under the Korean Government Employees' Union: The commander should have assessed what materials were present before ordering the [initial response team] to enter, and there are suspicions that this procedure may have been missing....]

Police have formed a dedicated 33-member investigation team and are considering applying charges of occupational negligence resulting in death against the business owner and other responsible parties.

(Camera reporting: Kim Han-gyeol, Video editing: Ahn Yeo-jin)