Hwaseong City to Create "Fire Risk Map" Using 500-Meter Grids: "Where Is It Dangerous, and Why?"

55.6% of Fires Concentrated in the Top 20% Highest-Risk Grids
741 Buildings in Sprinkler Blind Spots
Comprehensive Survey and Installation Cost Support Under Consideration
Mayor Jeong Myeonggeun: "Inspect Dangerous Areas First and Pursue Practical Measures"

An analysis of fire risk across Hwaseong Special City in Gyeonggi Province, conducted by dividing the entire city into 500-meter-by-500-meter grids, found that 55.6% of all fires occurred in the 20% of grids with the highest risk. Based on the findings, the city plans to set priorities for fire safety inspections and conduct a comprehensive survey of buildings in sprinkler blind spots.

Comprehensive Fire Risk Analysis Map of Hwaseong Special City. Provided by Hwaseong City.

Hwaseong City said on October 29 that it had held an interim briefing on its “Study on Data-Driven, Tailored Fire Prevention Measures for Hwaseong Special City” at the Hwaseong Research Institute on October 28, with officials from the city, Hwaseong Fire Station and the institute in attendance.

The study went beyond the statistical practice of counting fires and used geographic information system (GIS) spatial analysis to identify risk factors in different areas. Its aim is to shift the fire management system from responding after fires occur to focusing on prevention.

According to the city, this is the first analysis of its kind in South Korea to divide an entire city into 500-meter-by-500-meter grids, calculate a fire risk score for each grid and display the results on a map. The analysis used 11 key factors, including buildings whose sprinkler installation status has not been confirmed; small buildings exempt from mandatory installation of automatic fire suppression systems; and pilotis-style buildings with open structures that put them at risk of fire spreading to upper floors.

The analysis identified 741 buildings in “sprinkler blind spots”—buildings permitted before installation standards were strengthened, for which it is not known whether sprinklers are installed. Some 94% of these buildings were concentrated in the 20% of grids with the highest fire risk. The number of fires in grids containing buildings in sprinkler blind spots was more than five times the average for grids without such buildings.

The city will take high-risk areas into account when setting priorities for fire safety inspections and consider designating them as “Fire Prevention Strengthening Zones” if necessary. It will also consider conducting a comprehensive survey of buildings in sprinkler blind spots.

The meeting also discussed revising ordinances and laws to support sprinkler installation costs; providing basic fire safety equipment to buildings with a total floor area of 600 square meters or less and to pilotis-style buildings; and establishing a fire response system that uses drones.

Presenting the research findings at an interim report meeting on fire prevention measures. Photo provided by Hwaseong City.

“Until now, we could only get a vague sense of which neighborhoods were dangerous. This study has made it possible to pinpoint exactly which buildings and alleys are actually at risk,” said Jeong Myeong-geun, mayor of Hwaseong Special City. “We will carefully inspect the most dangerous areas first and implement practical measures, including support for sprinkler installation, so residents can live with peace of mind.”

Hwaseong City plans to incorporate feedback from the interim briefing and complete the study by December.

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