Seven injured in Bucheon factory fire; firefighter taken to hospital in cardiac arrest

Seven people were injured in a fire at a metal-parts painting factory in Bucheon, Gyeonggi province, on October 16, according to Yonhap and Newsis. They included five firefighters and two factory personnel. Yonhap reported that one firefighter was in cardiac arrest and another seriously injured. Earlier accounts said two firefighters had been trapped during the operation before rescuers brought them out and took them to hospital. [ 11 , 18 , 31 , 36 , 38 ]

The fire was reported at about 08:38 in a four-story factory in Nae-dong, Ojeong district. Reports said the initial emergency call described a fire in a third-floor washing room. Fire authorities issued a first-stage response at 08:57 and raised it to the second stage at 09:09, bringing in personnel and equipment from neighboring fire stations. The response was lowered to the first stage at 10:08. Newsis said the main flames were controlled at 10:22 and the fire was fully extinguished around 11:00. Chosun Ilbo instead gave 11:06 as the time it was put out. [ 11 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 31 , 38 ]

Newsis said the two seriously injured firefighters suffered smoke inhalation, while three others had minor injuries including heat exhaustion. Factory personnel suffered burns or inhaled smoke. The injury figures varied across the reports: earlier accounts counted five people, while Yonhap's 11:41 update counted seven. Chosun Ilbo's article said eight in its opening sentence but later said seven alongside a breakdown of six firefighters and two civilians. Authorities were investigating the cause and extent of the damage, Newsis reported. Gyeonggi governor Choo Mi-ae visited the scene after cancelling or postponing scheduled engagements, Dong-A Ilbo reported. [ 15 , 17 , 31 , 36 , 38 , 39 ]