Firefighter Who Died in Bucheon Factory Fire Honored with Provincial Funeral

A firefighter who fell into cardiac arrest at a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, has passed away. Following the wishes of the bereaved family, Gyeonggi Province has decided to hold the late firefighter's funeral as a provincial funeral.

According to the National Fire Agency and Gyeonggi Province on the 17th, Fire Captain Kim Jin-seok, who was transported to a hospital in cardiac arrest from the factory fire scene in Naedong, Ojeong-gu, Bucheon on the 16th, passed away at 12:55 a.m. that day while receiving treatment.

Captain Kim was part of the first-arriving unit at the scene and was engaged in fire suppression when he became trapped inside the factory and was rescued.

Another firefighter in his 40s who was rescued together suffered serious injuries and is receiving treatment. Four other firefighters were transported to the hospital with heat exhaustion symptoms, and two factory employees were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation.

The fire broke out at 8:38 a.m. on the 16th at a metal injection and printing factory and was extinguished after 2 hours and 28 minutes.

The province has decided to hold the late firefighter's funeral as a provincial funeral. The mortuary has been set up at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital's funeral hall, and the state funeral ceremony is scheduled to be held at 10 a.m. on the 19th at the Bucheon Indoor Sports Complex.

A joint condolence booth will be set up at Sejong Central Park's Urban Festival Plaza to allow the general public to pay their respects until the state funeral ceremony.

The National Fire Agency has posthumously promoted the late firefighter one rank from Fire Captain to Fire Lieutenant. Plans are also underway for the posthumous award of the Okjo Medal of Merit and burial at the National Cemetery.

Gyeonggi Province stated, "We will never forget the deceased's noble sacrifice," and pledged to show proper respect during the final journey.

Meanwhile, police and fire authorities are investigating the cause of the fire and the circumstances of the firefighters' entrapment.