The investigation into the fire at the Coupang warehouse in Incheon, which occurred in July, has determined that the initial cause was likely thermal runaway from a lithium-ion battery embedded in the stored goods.
On October 29, the Central Fire Investigation Team of the National Fire Agency officially announced the findings of the investigation into the Coupang warehouse fire.
The fire, which broke out on July 18, took over 109 hours to extinguish, finally being brought under control on the evening of July 22. A total of 917 firefighters and police personnel, along with seven helicopters and 255 pieces of equipment, were deployed to the scene. During the operation, two firefighters required treatment for smoke inhalation and exhaustion.
The financial damage was significant, estimated at 114 billion won, including 37.4 billion won in real estate and 76.6 billion won in personal property.
The investigation team identified the ignition point as a shelf on the sixth floor of Building B, where household items containing lithium-ion batteries were stored. Analysis of CCTV footage and witness statements supported this conclusion.
The National Forensic Service also confirmed signs of ignition due to insulation failure in the collected battery debris. However, due to severe fire damage, they could not pinpoint the exact product that initially ignited the fire.
The initial spark spread rapidly through packaging materials and boxes, intensifying as it reached the exterior walls and upper floors. The flames surged vertically to the eighth floor, where a rooftop restaurant was located, and spread toward Building A along the exterior of Building B. Fire authorities established a defensive line at the entry ramp to prevent further combustion in Building A and the lower levels.
In response to this incident, the National Fire Agency plans to overhaul its fire response manual for large warehouses and strengthen battery storage regulations. They will consult with relevant departments on limiting the state of charge (SOC) of batteries during storage to reduce fire risks.
Choi Yong-cheol, head of the National Fire Agency, emphasized, "Warehouses contain many combustible materials such as cardboard boxes and packaging, so even a small spark can lead to a major fire. Businesses storing lithium-ion batteries and related products should pay special attention to managing storage areas and detecting early fires, and ideally keep battery charge levels low during storage."
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about safety at Coupang warehouses. In June 2021, a fire at the Deokpyeong logistics center took 130 hours to extinguish, resulting in the death of Captain Kim Dong-sik of the rescue team. Although Coupang promised to prevent future incidents, a similar large-scale fire has occurred just five years later.
Moreover, it has been revealed that the building received construction approval in May 2020 and was exempt from the enhanced fire safety standards implemented this year. This has led to increased calls for urgent and effective measures for existing warehouses that are not subject to new regulations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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