Factory fire in Bucheon likely caused by oil vapor ignited by frictional heat: officials

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SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- A fire at a factory in Bucheon that left one firefighter dead and seven others injured was likely caused by an oil mist catching fire during a metal cleaning operation, officials said Saturday.

The fire broke out at the four-story metalworking factory in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, on Friday before fire authorities fully extinguished the blaze some 2 1/2 hours later.

One firefighter went into cardiac arrest, before he was pronounced dead while being treated at a hospital. Seven others were injured, including another fireman who sustained serious injuries.

A joint team comprising firefighters, police, the National Forensic Service (NFS) and the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation conducted an on-site inspection on Saturday to determine the cause of the blaze.

Investigators found that workers had been using paint thinner to clean metal parts at the time of the fire.

Authorities suspect that vapors released as the thinner evaporated may have been ignited by a spark caused by static electricity, an electrical discharge or frictional heat.

The work area in the factory reportedly lacked safety equipment, including explosion-prevention facilities, according to officials.

The joint inspection team also found about a dozen containers of thinner, some of them open, just 1 to 2 meters from the suspected point of origin. Hundreds of paint cans stored at the site are also believed to have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

The team plans to request a detailed analysis of the residual cleaning solvent recovered from the site to the NFS.

Fire erupts at a metalworking factory in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, on Oct. 16, 2026, in this photo provided by the Bucheon Fire Station. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

sookim@yna.co.kr (END)

(3rd LD) 1 firefighter in cardiac arrest, 7 others injured in Bucheon factory fire

Factory fire in Bucheon likely caused by oil vapor ignited by frictional heat: officials

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首尔，10月17日（韩联社）——官员周六表示，富川一家工厂发生的火灾造成一名消防员死亡，另有七人受伤，很可能是由于金属清洗作业期间油雾着火引起的。

周五，首尔以西的富川市一家四层金属加工厂发生火灾，消防部门在大约 2 个半小时后将大火完全扑灭。

一名消防员突发心脏骤停，送医后不治身亡。另有七人受伤，其中一名消防员伤势严重。

周六，由消防员、警察、国家科学鉴定院（NFS）和韩国电气安全公社组成的联合小组对火灾原因进行了现场勘查。

调查人员发现，火灾发生时，工人们正在使用油漆稀释剂清洗金属部件。

当局怀疑稀释剂蒸发时释放出的蒸汽可能被静电、放电或摩擦生热引起的火花点燃。

据官方消息，该工厂的工作区域缺乏安全设备，包括防爆设施。

联合检查组还在疑似起火点附近1至2米处发现了十几桶稀释剂，其中一些已经打开。现场存放的数百个油漆罐也被认为助长了火势的迅速蔓延。

该团队计划向美国国家消防局 (NFS) 申请对从现场回收的残留清洁溶剂进行详细分析。

2026年10月16日，首尔以西的富川市一家金属加工厂发生火灾。这张照片由富川消防局提供。（照片禁止出售）（韩联社）

sookim@yna.co.kr (完)

（3rd LD）富川工厂火灾导致1名消防员心脏骤停，另有7人受伤

官员称，富川市一家工厂发生火灾很可能是由摩擦生热引燃油蒸气所致。