The Seoul Metropolitan Government will conduct joint safety inspections of residential vinyl greenhouses vulnerable to fire from this month through June, in preparation for the monsoon season, the city said Wednesday.
Residential vinyl greenhouses are structures made of vinyl sheeting and steel frames used for housing purposes. Due to their structural characteristics, fires spread rapidly, posing a high risk of casualties. Seoul currently has 18 areas where such facilities are concentrated, totaling 276 units.
The inspections will be carried out across fire, electrical, and gas sectors, with participation from local fire stations and district offices, as well as the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation and the Korea Gas Safety Corporation.
Key inspection items include the maintenance status of residential firefighting equipment, visible fire extinguishers, and emergency firefighting devices, along with the deterioration and proper functioning of electrical wiring, distribution panels, and earth leakage breakers. Inspectors will also closely check whether portable gas containers are stored in excessive quantities, the proper installation of LPG containers and gas hoses, and any gas leaks.
Fire safety consulting for residents will be conducted in parallel. The program will provide guidance on safety rules for using electrical appliances, managing combustibles around heat sources, securing evacuation routes and fire truck access roads, and proper use of fire extinguishers.
The Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters plans to address any issues that can be immediately corrected on-site, while continuing to improve areas requiring further measures in cooperation with relevant agencies.
"Residential vinyl greenhouses have a high potential for damage to spread when fires break out, so prevention beforehand is more important than anything else," said Hong Young-geun, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters. "Through this joint inspection, we will thoroughly examine risk factors and do our best to secure the safety of residents' living spaces."
