What happened at the Pyeongtaek chemical warehouse fire and how was it handled?

The blaze broke out at 12:03 a.m. at a warehouse complex operated by logistics company PJK, and fire authorities later said they focused on stopping it from spreading to nearby warehouses and facilities. A firefighting official said that approach helped keep the fire from growing further.

When was the Pyeongtaek warehouse fire first reported and when did it come under initial control?

The fire was reported at 12:03 a.m. Tuesday and was declared under initial control at 9:08 a.m. The fire authorities said this came after about nine hours of response.

How many firefighters and what kinds of materials were involved in the Pyeongtaek warehouse blaze?

Fire authorities deployed 255 personnel under a national firefighting mobilization order. The warehouse contained more than 100 types of hazardous materials, including flammable liquids.

Fire at chemical warehouse in Pyeongtaek comes under initial control

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Summary

A massive fire at a chemical warehouse in Pyeongtaek was brought under initial control Tuesday, about nine hours after it broke out. Fire authorities reported no casualties and said the site stored more than 1.9 million liters of chemicals, including flammable materials. The blaze damaged two of seven structures in the warehouse complex. Prime Minister Han Seong-sook ordered full mobilization to contain the fire and search for possible victims.

Key Facts

Fire authorities declared the blaze under initial control at 9:08 a.m. Tuesday.
The warehouse stored more than 1.9 million liters of chemicals and over 100 types of hazardous materials.
Authorities deployed 255 personnel under a national firefighting mobilization order.
The fire damaged two of seven structures at the warehouse complex.
Fire authorities said they will investigate the exact cause once the fire is fully brought under control.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 11, 2026 8:34 am KST
Updated Aug 11, 2026 10:37 am KST

Black smoke billows from a fire at a warehouse storing inflammable liquids and other hazardous materials in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Yonhap

A massive blaze at a chemical warehouse in Pyeongtaek was brought under initial control Tuesday, about nine hours after it broke out, firefighting authorities said.

The fire at the warehouse in Pyeongtaek, some 60 kilometers south of Seoul, was declared under initial control at 9:08 a.m. by the Gyeonggi Province firefighting headquarters. No casualties have been reported.

Fire authorities had deployed 255 personnel under a national firefighting mobilization order after the blaze broke out at the warehouse storing more than 1.9 million liters of chemicals, including flammable materials, at 12:03 a.m.

The single-story structure located inside a warehouse complex operated by logistics company PJK contained over 100 types of hazardous materials, including flammable liquids. The fire damaged two of seven structures at the complex.

"As a result of focusing on preventing the blaze from expanding to nearby warehouses and facilities, (we) were able to stop the blaze from growing," a firefighting official said.

Fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the blaze once it is fully brought under control.

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook earlier ordered fire authorities to fully mobilize all available personnel and equipment to contain the blaze and search for possible victims, according to her office.

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