Authorities have launched a joint investigation into a fire at a metal parts coating factory in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, that resulted in the death of one firefighter and injuries to seven others.
The Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency's dedicated investigation team for the Bucheon factory fire executed a search warrant at the site around 11:20 a.m. on October 21, deploying a total of 12 personnel, including 10 investigators and two members of the fire investigation team. The search concluded at approximately 2:35 p.m., three hours and 15 minutes after it began.
During the search, police and fire authorities collected records and electronic information to assess the factory's hazardous materials storage practices and fire prevention and safety management measures. They plan to analyze the seized materials to investigate any potential violations related to safety management at the time of the fire.
This first forced investigation comes five days after the fire, with police having already charged the factory's 70-year-old representative, identified as A, with professional negligence and arson. Additionally, factory officials are being questioned as witnesses to clarify the circumstances surrounding the fire.
A police spokesperson stated, "We will review additional charges against the factory representative and further indictments of related individuals as soon as we obtain results from the National Forensic Service's analysis and other supplementary materials."
The fire broke out at 8:38 a.m. on October 16 in the factory located on the third floor of a five-story building and was extinguished by 11:06 a.m., two hours and 28 minutes later.
Among the two firefighters who were trapped while battling the blaze, Fire Officer Kim Jin-seok was transported in cardiac arrest and ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Another firefighter who was also trapped sustained serious injuries. In total, eight individuals were affected, including four firefighters and two factory employees who received treatment for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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