Yongin City Conducts Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety Training and Fire Suppression Drills
Yongin Special City (Mayor Lee Sang-il) held 'lithium-ion battery fire safety education and fire suppression drills' for senior civil servants on the 23rd.
The training, held at the Korea Battery Engineers Association test facility in Yangji-eup, Cheoin-gu, was designed to enhance rapid situational assessment and on-site command capabilities in emergency situations such as electric vehicle fires. Vice Mayor Hwang Jun-gi and other city officials participated.
The Korea Battery Engineers Association, which conducted the training, provided education on the necessity of electric vehicle battery safety management and explained the causes and characteristics of battery fires based on actual cases.
Additionally, the thermal runaway phenomenon that occurs when lithium-ion batteries catch fire was demonstrated through direct experiments, and fire suppression drills were conducted.
Lithium-ion batteries are secondary batteries that generate and store electricity with high energy density, and are used not only in electric vehicles but also in various products such as smartphones, portable chargers, laptops, power tools, and cordless vacuums.
When a fire occurs in these batteries, a 'thermal runaway' phenomenon occurs in which temperature spikes instantly above 1,000°C, and large amounts of toxic gases are released, creating high danger. Experts are calling for urgent countermeasures and responses tailored to these batteries, as they are difficult to suppress with general fire extinguishing agents.
A city official stated, "Lithium-ion battery fires can occur in various devices in our daily lives and initial suppression is difficult, so it is important for senior civil servants to accurately recognize the on-site risks. We have prepared this training to strengthen proactive fire prevention measures and develop comprehensive safety infrastructure so that Yongin becomes a safe city where citizens can feel secure," the official said.