Ulsan Fire Headquarters to Invest 6.7 Billion Won Next Year in Fire Vehicles and Advanced Equipment

16 Units, Including a Specialized Wildfire Firefighting Vehicle and an Unmanned Fire-Suppression Robot

Ulsan Fire Headquarters will invest 6.72 billion won next year in strengthening its fleet of fire engines and advanced equipment to improve its ability to respond to various disasters, including wildfires and industrial disasters. It plans to introduce a specialized wildfire firefighting vehicle and an unmanned fire-suppression robot, and replace 14 aging fire vehicles to protect residents and firefighters.

Ulsan Fire Headquarters said it had included funding to strengthen its fleet of fire vehicles and advanced equipment in its 2027 main budget. The initiative comprises six projects and will add a total of 16 units: 15 fire vehicles and one unmanned robot.

Of the total project cost, 4.515 billion won, or 67.2%, will be covered by national funding, including central government funds and the Fire Safety Grant Tax. The remaining 2.205 billion won will come from the city budget.

The introduction of advanced disaster-response equipment will receive 3.15 billion won. The budget allocates 750 million won for one specialized wildfire firefighting vehicle and 2.4 billion won for one unmanned fire-suppression robot.

The specialized wildfire firefighting vehicle has four-wheel drive and off-road capabilities, enabling it to carry out firefighting operations in forested areas that ordinary fire vehicles cannot easily reach. It will use features such as the ability to spray water while in motion to support initial firefighting efforts and prevent wildfires from spreading, and to help reduce damage in residential areas near forests.

The unmanned fire-suppression robot will be remotely deployed at sites that are difficult for firefighters to access because of risks such as extreme heat, explosions and structural collapse. It is expected to support firefighting efforts at large-scale blazes in national industrial complexes and at fires involving electric vehicles, reducing firefighters' exposure to danger and improving response capabilities at the scene.

Replacing 14 aging fire vehicles will cost 3.57 billion won. The vehicles to be replaced are three fire engines, two rescue buses, two command and investigation vehicles, and seven ambulances.

Specifically, 1.47 billion won will go toward replacing fire engines, 440 million won for rescue buses, and 400 million won for command and investigation vehicles. A budget of 1.26 billion won for replacing seven ambulances is intended to improve the environment for transporting emergency patients and make the 119 ambulance service more reliable.

National support will also be actively used to secure funding. Three projects—the introduction of a specialized wildfire firefighting vehicle and an unmanned fire-suppression robot, and the replacement of aging ambulances—will receive a total of 4.41 billion won. Half of that amount, or 2.205 billion won, is planned to be covered by central government funding, including the Emergency Medical Services Fund. The replacement of aging fire engines, rescue buses and command and investigation vehicles will use 2.31 billion won from the Fire Safety Grant Tax.

Once the budget is finalized, Ulsan Fire Headquarters plans to draw up purchasing plans, prepare specifications, and carry out bidding and contract procedures in the first half of 2027. It will take delivery of the vehicles and equipment and deploy them in the field in the second half of the year. It will also provide user training to ensure the advanced equipment can be operated smoothly.

However, this plan is based on the 2027 main budget request, and the final scope of the projects may be adjusted depending on the results of budget deliberations and approval.

"To respond to Ulsan's disaster environment, we need to expand our advanced firefighting equipment and replace aging vehicles in a timely manner," said Kim Yongsoo, chief of Ulsan Fire Headquarters. "We will make active use of national funding and other resources to reduce the burden on local finances and do our utmost to protect residents and firefighters."

Ulsan Fire Headquarters

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.