On the 2nd at the Virtual Tactics Research Building of the National Fire Research Institute in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province. When we entered the first-floor training hall, a traffic accident scene unfolded on a large screen. It showed rescuers extricating a driver trapped in a crashed vehicle and moving the person to an ambulance. The system is designed so that when a trainee with sensors attached moves their arms and legs, the rescuer in Virtual Reality (VR) moves in exactly the same way. Instead of pressing buttons, trainees learn the rescue procedures with their whole body. It was training to build disaster response capabilities in Virtual Reality (VR), not at an actual accident scene.
Another building also had a facility that can recreate a subway fire scene where smoke makes it impossible to see ahead. A lab was set up to develop drones that drop fire-suppression canisters on high-rise buildings and to analyze evidence collected from major fire scenes. Even without an actual disaster, the center creates various risk scenarios such as traffic accidents, fires, and flooding to validate response technologies.
The National Fire Research Institute transferred in Aug. from Asan to Gongju in South Chungcheong Province. The new compound, which cost a total of 54.5 billion won, has a site area of 58,916㎡ (about 17,822 pyeong) and a total floor area of 11,778㎡ (about 3,563 pyeong), about six times and three times larger than before, respectively. Five buildings—the research administration building, Virtual Tactics Research Building, hazardous gas response research building, special research building, and fire experiment building—are used to study advanced firefighting technologies.
◇VR training and even subway validation facilities… Learning disaster response with the whole body
The open virtual training ground, 30 meters by 30 meters, was unobstructed without columns. On the large screen in front, a training video showed rescuing people at a traffic accident scene. In the upstairs control room, multiple monitors allowed staff to check the training space and the status of the VR program.
The enclosed training ground on the second floor has movable walls to simulate various interior layouts. The individual training area is equipped with a stationary movement device and VR equipment. A “haptic glove” that transmits a sense of touch when grabbing or manipulating equipment in virtual space is also under development.
An institute official said, “The trainee’s movements are reflected on the screen as they are,” and noted, “We plan to develop training content over about three years and use it for training actual firefighters.”
In the hazardous gas response research building, a subway car and a flooded section were set up to feel like real spaces. It is a facility that can recreate a subway fire situation where thick smoke obscures visibility. Disaster environments in multiuse facilities such as movie theaters can also be simulated.
Here, firefighting robots and wearable equipment are tested to verify whether they operate properly in environments with smoke and obstacles. If needed, the facility is also used for firefighters’ rescue training.
◇Drones that drop fire-suppression canisters to fight high-rise fires… Tracing the causes of major blazes
Various drones were laid out in the drone mission equipment analysis lab of the research administration building. Their missions varied from searching for missing persons to dropping supplies to producing 3D maps of disaster scenes. The most eye-catching was a drone equipped with fire-suppression canisters developed for extinguishing fires in high-rise buildings.
It is a technology that sends a drone to a high-rise building, where an aerial ladder truck has difficulty reaching, and remotely detonates fire-suppression canisters. The research team confirmed in validation tests that it significantly suppressed flames on the exterior of buildings. However, to deploy it at actual fire scenes, related regulations and safety reviews must be completed.
On the first floor of the same building, in the evidence decomposition room, evidence collected from fire scenes—such as a burned microwave oven and electric rice cooker—was laid out. After visually examining the evidence, researchers use nondestructive testing equipment such as X-ray to inspect the interior and trace the ignition source.
Evidence related to the fire at the Coupang logistics center in Seoknam-dong, Seo District, Incheon, on Jul. was also analyzed here. The institute analyzes about 130 pieces of fire evidence annually.
An institute official said, “We are analyzing fires that occurred in mezzanine structures, such as the Coupang logistics center fire and the E-Land Group logistics center fire last year in Cheonan, and preparing a report,” adding, “We plan to concentrate our capabilities on analyzing major fires going forward.”
◇Washing soot-stained turnout gear and even skin… Protecting firefighters’ health
In the hazardous substances analysis lab of the special research building, soot-stained turnout gear, cleansing wipes, and foam cleansers were laid out. These products were developed to effectively remove harmful substances such as heavy metals that cling to firefighters’ skin and protective equipment at fire scenes.
Firefighters who have extinguished a blaze can still be exposed to harmful substances left on their turnout gear and skin after the flames are out. The institute developed firefighting-specific cleansing wipes that can wipe off contaminants even in situations where water is difficult to use on site.
This technology was transferred to the car care company Bullsone and commercialized. The foam cleanser and turnout-gear detergent developed by the institute are also being used at frontline fire scenes.
Based on its new compound in Gongju, the National Fire Research Institute plans to expand development of disaster response technologies and validation research. In 2027, it will push to break ground on the National Fire Safety Standards Center, a project with a total budget of 46 billion won. Research facilities such as a firefighting research and development (R&D) collaboration center will also be expanded in stages, with the aim of developing into a “K-fire safety cluster.”
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