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SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - A large fire at Kumho Tire’s Gwangju plant is nearing containment, prompting fire authorities to consider scaling back the emergency response level as of Sunday.
The National Fire Agency said that as of the morning of May 18, the blaze was about 80 percent contained. A total of 462 firefighters and 168 pieces of equipment have been deployed in an ongoing effort to fully extinguish the flames.
The fire broke out around 7:11 a.m. Saturday in the mixing area of Plant 2, located in the western section of the facility. The Gwangju plant is divided into two sections: Plant 1 to the south and Plant 2 to the west.
The mixing process, where raw rubber is combined with chemical agents at the start of tire production, is believed to have been the ignition point. Investigators suspect sparks from an industrial oven used to preheat the rubber set off the fire.
Due to the scale of the incident and the release of toxic smoke, the fire agency had initially issued a national firefighting mobilization order. However, with containment efforts progressing, officials are now weighing whether to lower the response level.
Kumho Tire has halted all production at the plant while damage assessment and recovery are underway.
Nearby residents were affected by the smoke and dust, prompting evacuations. A total of 183 people from 98 households across four adjacent apartment complexes have taken shelter at a temporary evacuation center set up at Gwangju Women’s University gymnasium.
Firefighters bring major blaze at Gwangju Kumho Tire plant under control
A large fire at Kumho Tire’s Gwangju plant is nearing containment, prompting fire authorities to consider scaling back the emergency response level as of Sunday.
The National Fire Agency said that as of the morning of May 18, the blaze was about 80 percent contained. A total of 462 firefighters and 168 pieces of equipment have been deployed in an ongoing effort to fully extinguish the flames.
The fire broke out around 7:11 a.m. Saturday in the mixing area of Plant 2, located in the western section of the facility. The Gwangju plant is divided into two sections: Plant 1 to the south and Plant 2 to the west.
The mixing process, where raw rubber is combined with chemical agents at the start of tire production, is believed to have been the ignition point. Investigators suspect sparks from an industrial oven used to preheat the rubber set off the fire.
Due to the scale of the incident and the release of toxic smoke, the fire agency had initially issued a national firefighting mobilization order. However, with containment efforts progressing, officials are now weighing whether to lower the response level.
Kumho Tire has halted all production at the plant while damage assessment and recovery are underway.
Nearby residents were affected by the smoke and dust, prompting evacuations. A total of 183 people from 98 households across four adjacent apartment complexes have taken shelter at a temporary evacuation center set up at Gwangju Women’s University gymnasium.
Firefighters bring major blaze at Gwangju Kumho Tire plant under control
A large fire at Kumho Tire’s Gwangju plant is nearing containment, prompting fire authorities to consider scaling back the emergency response level as of Sunday.
The National Fire Agency said that as of the morning of May 18, the blaze was about 80 percent contained. A total of 462 firefighters and 168 pieces of equipment have been deployed in an ongoing effort to fully extinguish the flames.
The fire broke out around 7:11 a.m. Saturday in the mixing area of Plant 2, located in the western section of the facility. The Gwangju plant is divided into two sections: Plant 1 to the south and Plant 2 to the west.
The mixing process, where raw rubber is combined with chemical agents at the start of tire production, is believed to have been the ignition point. Investigators suspect sparks from an industrial oven used to preheat the rubber set off the fire.
Due to the scale of the incident and the release of toxic smoke, the fire agency had initially issued a national firefighting mobilization order. However, with containment efforts progressing, officials are now weighing whether to lower the response level.
Kumho Tire has halted all production at the plant while damage assessment and recovery are underway.
Nearby residents were affected by the smoke and dust, prompting evacuations. A total of 183 people from 98 households across four adjacent apartment complexes have taken shelter at a temporary evacuation center set up at Gwangju Women’s University gymnasium.
Firefighters bring major blaze at Gwangju Kumho Tire plant under control
A large fire at Kumho Tire’s Gwangju plant is nearing containment, prompting fire authorities to consider scaling back the emergency response level as of Sunday.
The National Fire Agency said that as of the morning of May 18, the blaze was about 80 percent contained. A total of 462 firefighters and 168 pieces of equipment have been deployed in an ongoing effort to fully extinguish the flames.
The fire broke out around 7:11 a.m. Saturday in the mixing area of Plant 2, located in the western section of the facility. The Gwangju plant is divided into two sections: Plant 1 to the south and Plant 2 to the west.
The mixing process, where raw rubber is combined with chemical agents at the start of tire production, is believed to have been the ignition point. Investigators suspect sparks from an industrial oven used to preheat the rubber set off the fire.
Due to the scale of the incident and the release of toxic smoke, the fire agency had initially issued a national firefighting mobilization order. However, with containment efforts progressing, officials are now weighing whether to lower the response level.
Kumho Tire has halted all production at the plant while damage assessment and recovery are underway.
Nearby residents were affected by the smoke and dust, prompting evacuations. A total of 183 people from 98 households across four adjacent apartment complexes have taken shelter at a temporary evacuation center set up at Gwangju Women’s University gymnasium.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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