Damage by Fire Reached 159 Billion Won in 1998

The number of fires that broke out last year throughout the country totaled 32,664, which amounts to 89 cases a day, at a cost of 159.721 billion won.
According to the '98 annual statistics report on fires', released by the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs on May 6, 32,664 fires occurred, an increase of 10.8 percent over last year's 29,472. However, the number of fire-related deaths decreased by 10.8 percent to 505 from 564.
The resulting area damaged by fires amounted to 1.224365 million square meters, while 4,103 people from 1,555 families lost their houses.
The most frequent cause of fire was due to electrical malfunctions at 33.4 percent(10,897 cases), followed by cigarette's 11.8 percent(3,856), unintentional fires created by children caused 5.9 percent(1,938), propane or natural gas caused 5.6 percent(1,827), sparks created 5.1 percent(1,668), petroleum misuse 1.5 percent(464), heaters 1.2 percent(391), and matches or candle's 0.7 percent(222).
Classifying by place, houses or apartments were attacked by fire most frequently filling 30.2 percent(9,854). Following this were cars at 16.5 percent(5,377), factories at 7.4 percent(2,427), stores at 5.4 percent(1,769), restaruants at 5.2 percent(1,694), storage facilities at 2.4 percent(779), hotels and inns 0.9 percent(279), schools at 0.7 percent(221), ships at 0.4 percent(118) and market areas at 0.2 percent(58).
Fires broke out most often in winter months(Dec,Jan,Feb) with 9,525 reported cases, followed by spring (Mar,Apr,May)'s 8,494 cases, fall(Sep,Oct,Nov)'s 7,657, and summer(Jun,Jul,Aug)'s 6,988 cases. March was the most dangerous month while July had the fewest incidents.
Jooan Kang : jooan@joongang.co.kr