“New Law Allows Fire Trucks to Destroy Illegally Parked Vehicles to Save Lives”

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The fire at the Jecheon Sports Center in 2017, which took the lives of 29 people, was an incident in which illegally parked vehicles delayed entry of fire trucks, resulting in increased damage.

The law was later changed to allow fire trucks to push into or destroy illegally parked vehicles.

In fact, it has not been easy to apply in practice.

However, the fire authorities believe that the grace period is now over, and have decided to actively implement it from this year.

This is reporter Jeong In-gon.

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Last December 2017.

A big fire broke out at the Jecheon Sports Center.

A fire articulated truck arrives at the scene of the fire but is blocked by parked cars.

In an urgent situation to rescue citizens who have evacuated over the building, citizens who are worse off push the car together.

″Somebody help me!″

Fire trucks were also delayed due to illegally parked vehicles near the sports center.

After 29 precious lives were lost, the law was changed to allow forced disposal of illegally parked vehicles.

A fire drill assuming a fire in an apartment complex.

Fire trucks line up in a narrow alley, but are blocked by illegally parked vehicles dozens of meters ahead of the scene of the fire.

Firefighters get out and push the vehicle, but the vehicle does not budge.

Eventually, the fire engine pushes the parked vehicle straight through.

To enter the ladder car, the tow truck quickly tows the car.

An illegally parked vehicle cannot be compensated for damage caused by an emergency dispatch of a fire engine even if it is severely damaged.

A law to forcibly dispose of illegally parked vehicles has been prepared, but until last year, there was only one case nationwide.

However, the fire authorities believe that a sufficient grace period has passed and will actively respond from this year.

[우기남/울주소방서 119재난대응과]

″There are cases where dispatchers respond passively due to concerns about various civil complaints. (Now) to be able to actively respond in case of emergency…″

The fire department asked the owners to actively participate in securing access roads for fire trucks, saying that the owner of the vehicle is responsible for repairing illegally parked vehicles that have been forcibly disposed of.

This is Jeong In-gon from MBC News.

Video coverage: Young Choi (Ulsan)