■ Telephone Connection: Song Hyeon-ho, Director of Geumsan 119 Safety Center, Gimje Fire Station, Jeonbuk
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[앵커]
“There is a grandfather in a house on fire”, it is human instinct to be afraid of strong fire. But the sense of duty overcame that instinct. On the evening of the 6th, a new firefighter who jumped into the flames without hesitation lost his life.
I am thirty years old this year. The funeral ceremony for the success day firefighter who passed away at the age of a flower will be held this morning. Let’s pray for the deceased and remember the deceased. Let’s talk for a while with Song Hyeon-ho, the head of the Geumsan 119 Safety Center at the Gimje Fire Department in Jeollabuk-do, who worked with the deceased. Director, are you with me?
[송현호]
hello? I am Song Hyeon-ho, director of the Geumsan Center.
[앵커]
It’s unfortunate that you won’t be in a hurry, but thank you for the interview. First of all, I would like to express my condolences. A little later, at 10 o’clock, the funeral ceremony for the firefighters on Success Day will be held. I’m cautious about asking how I feel because I don’t think you’ll feel the sudden breakup.
[송현호]
It’s really unfortunate right now, and the teammates who worked together and were dispatched together on Success Day are in a really bad state of post-traumatic stress.
[앵커]
Everyone is still having a hard time at work.
[송현호]
I am struggling a lot right now. I’m worried about how I’ll do my job in the future.
[앵커]
Sung-il Firefighter is now a new firefighter who has been appointed for only ten months. It is said that he passed after four attempts, and the Geumsan 119 Safety Center was his first place of work. What kind of juniors or colleagues do you remember?
[송현호]
Success Day’s juniors achieved their dream after 4 challenges. As such, he took an active attitude in his work and on-site activities, and was a very cool and sincere employee who set an example for his seniors and colleagues.
[앵커]
When I heard this news, firefighters are people too, but running into the flames is against my instincts. I really respect the sense of mission to jump into the flames for someone I don’t know. The unstoppable steps of jumping into the flames became the last appearance of your juniors. What did the deceased say about his usual sense of duty?
[송현호]
As a newcomer, I was appointed as a firefighter, so I thought that saving lives was my top priority.
[앵커]
In this fire, the owner of the house, a grandfather in his 70s, also lost his life. It is said that the fire spread quickly, but it seems that there must have been a lot of difficulties in the search. What if you could tell us about the situation at that time?
[송현호]
The house is made of wood. As a result, it was difficult to rescue people as the flames progressed in an instant.
[앵커]
If this caught fire at night, how was the cause of the fire identified?
[송현호]
The cause is now estimated to be careless garbage incineration. That part is under further investigation.
[앵커]
If you look at past articles, there were many cases where firefighters came out after being rescued from a fire and then went back in again when people were told that there were people left inside. Is there any way to prevent this from happening?
[송현호]
That’s why we need long-time on-site activities in case of a large fire. In that case, there is such a way to take turns fighting the fire and taking turns resting. There is such a way, but there are also points where it is not possible when there is not enough manpower to shift. It is true that there are some difficulties.
[앵커]
It was the same in this case, but firefighters are constantly dying at the scene of a fire. What do you think is the biggest reason why such unfortunate events keep repeating?
[송현호]
We are strengthening field activity safety training. However, as a firefighter, it seems that this happened because it is such a dangerous job and many unexpected situations occur because the mission prioritizes fire suppression, especially saving lives.
[앵커]
Tragedy like this must be prevented in the future. In the process of putting lifesaving as the top priority, I think I can’t help but ask about old equipment.
The Hongje-dong arson incident 22 years ago was recently summoned. At that time, there was no firefighting suit given to individual firefighters, so a waterproof suit worth 80,000 won, so a waterproof suit would be a raincoat. The incident of wearing a raincoat is being discussed again recently. Are there any problems with outdated equipment at the site?
[송현호]
Recently, personal equipment has improved a lot and they are well supplied. And the performance has improved, so there is nothing difficult about the equipment.
[앵커]
Still, compared to the past, the current situation of responding to the field has improved a lot in terms of equipment, right?
[송현호]
Yes, it has improved a lot.
[앵커]
Is there anything else that could be improved?
[송현호]
There doesn’t seem to be anything to improve on.
[앵커]
As you said before, in fact, I am quite worried not only about the bereaved family but also about the trauma of fellow firefighters who have no choice but to witness the death of a colleague right next to them. What do you think is needed to heal the wounds?
[송현호]
We also provide psychological counseling and then run after programs. There is something that can calm the mind, but when I look at our employees now, I see these employees as having a very difficult time working, and in such a situation, long-term rest, long-term vacation, I am seen as needing something like this.
[앵커]
The funeral ceremony has not yet taken place, but in the case of the co-workers who were dispatched together, they have returned to work, right?
[송현호]
Yes, now those colleagues also participated in the funeral ceremony today as employees who worked together at the funeral hall today. It is such a situation that I have to go back to work after the funeral ceremony. It seems that some measures are desperately needed for that part to work.
[앵커]
Earlier, the director of the center also mentioned psychological treatment. Is there a plan in place for the director and his colleagues at the Geumsan 119 Center to receive psychological treatment while returning to work?
[송현호]
Yes, it is available. Our psychological counseling is designated as 4 hospitals in Jeollabuk-do, and we plan to provide psychological counseling even when we visit our office.
[앵커]
All right. Success Day firefighter who passed away ten days before his birthday. It is said that the last words were, let’s go eat something delicious. I think it will be something the family members will never forget. Do you have any last words you would like to say as the center director and colleague?
[송현호]
I still can’t believe that Sung-il’s juniors aren’t by my side. He was such an employee who could grow even better as a firefighter. However, it is very regrettable that we will not be able to see them in the future, and we will not be able to forget the noble spirit of sacrifice that was shown on set. That is all.
[앵커]
I pray for the soul of the deceased. I convey my condolences to the bereaved family and colleagues. Until now, Song Hyeon-ho was the head of the Geumsan 119 Safety Center at the Gimje Fire Station in North Jeolla Province. Thank you for your words today.
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