Give way to fire trucks

Starting June 27, a fine of 1 million won will be slapped on any drivers who get in the way of a fire truck. Yonhap

By Kim Hyun-bin

Starting June 27, any driver who fails to make way for fire trucks will be fined 1 million won ($896).

According to the National Fire Agency, the revised Framework Act of Fire Services enforcement ordinance will go into force Wednesday, and the government has been working to educate the public to make room for emergency fire trucks.

Prior to the revised bill, drivers who failed to pull over were punished under the Road Traffic Act. Two-wheel vehicles were fined 50,000 won, sedans 70,000 won and vans 80,000 won. Now violators will be fined under the Framework Act of Fire Services.

A fine of 1 million won will be slapped on drivers who cut off or block a fire truck. The fire truck will give a warning announcement to violators during operations, and if the vehicles do not yield they will be video recorded. Officials will review the recordings after to identify and fine violators.

“Yielding to fire trucks is a mandatory obligation, and we request the public to voluntarily move out of their way,” said Hong Young-geun, chief of the fire response investigation team at the National Fire Agency.

The revised Framework Act of Fire Services also includes mandatory installation of emergency fire extinguishers at certain areas where deemed necessary by local governments and enhancing compensation for firefighters.

Starting August, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will tighten its enforcement of regulations against owners of any vehicles illegally parked within five meters of fire hydrants.

The biggest obstacle for emergency fire operations is traffic jams _ 48.7 percent of the time _ followed by illegally parked vehicles at 28.1 percent, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters.

In the first quarter of this year, the number of illegally parked vehicles blocking fire hydrants increased by 15 percent compared to the same period last year.

After two deadly fires last winter, the government revised the law, allowing local police agencies to designate no parking zones within five meters of fire hydrants or alarms.

This revision will take effect Aug. 10.

The Seoul government is cooperating with district fire stations to strengthen inspections of fire truck routes.

It has strengthened inspections of residential areas and narrow alleys where fire trucks have a hard time maneuvering.

Under the revision, owners of cars parked on a route designated for fire trucks can be fined.

The country was hit with two devastating fires, at which rescuers were unable to carry out their operations in time due to blocked roads. Jecheon Sports Center caught fire late December, taking 29 lives and leaving 37 injured.

Less than a month later, a fire at a hospital in Miryang left 46 dead and 141 injured.