BUSAN, South Korea – A fire of unknown origin spread rapidly through a warehouse at US Army Garrison Daegu’s Busan Storage Center during the evening of October 24, 2024. The building was empty and unoccupied and undergoing renovations at the time .

Although the warehouse appears to be a total loss, fortunately there were no injuries either in the warehouse or among the firefighters who attacked the fire.

USAG Daegu Busan Fire Department Crew Chief Chang Chun Ki was on a routine patrol through the BSC when he noticed the smoke and raised the alarm around 6:30 p.m. The fire extinguishing and alarm systems were disconnected due to the renovation in progress, and the cold storage was specifically included in his patrol.

The garrison immediately activated standing mutual aid agreements with the Busan Fire Department and dispatched the two fire engines from the Busan area to BSC and Pier 8. Two additional engines were dispatched from Camp Walker in Daegu, nearly two hours away .

The response of the Busan Fire Department was phenomenal. In total, there were nearly 60 fire engines and more than 150 firefighters who joined the battle. As the fire grew and began to threaten adjacent buildings on the installation, the combined USAG Daegu FD and Korean firefighters remained on the defensive to prevent the fire from spreading.

Their efforts were extremely effective. While the fire completely engulfed the warehouse, major damage was limited to that building.

“The entire effort speaks to the incredible talent we have here in USAG Daegu,” said Deputy Garrison Commander Chester “Chet” Witkowski. “From the firefighters themselves, to the team that ran our Emergency Operations Center to the Department of Emergency Services, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Plans, Training, Mobility and Security, Safety and Public Affairs, all those staff made an hour to stay. in front of what was the largest fire I have seen in my 18 years with the Army Installations Management Command.”

Witkowski took the opportunity after the fire to thank Busan Fire Commissioner Jo Il Kim for his department’s efforts. (In South Korea, Kim ranks only below the country’s firefighting chief.)

“As we spoke, I was struck by Commissioner Kim’s expression of camaraderie, that there is a special brotherhood among firefighters, that it doesn’t matter what department you’re in or your nationality when you’re fighting a fire,” he said. .

USAG Daegu Fire Chief Francis “Tag” Tagalog echoed Commissioner Kim’s thoughts.

“The collaboration between the USG Daegu Fire & Emergency Services and the firefighters of the Busan Fire Department was truly commendable, showing the importance of teamwork in emergency situations,” Tagalog said. “Establishing unified command and formulating an incident action plan demonstrated the strength of firefighter brotherhood, resulting in a quick response and well-coordinated firefighting tactics that ultimately prevented the fire from spreading to nearby units. The successful outcome of this incident serves as a testament to the dedication and expertise of our firefighters in protecting our community.”

After concerted efforts that lasted nearly five hours, the fire was brought under control around 11:00 p.m. Both American and Korean firefighters remained on the scene throughout the night, and it was completely extinguished around 8:00 a.m. on October 25.

There is no indication of foul play and the investigation into the cause is ongoing.

The warehouse, built in 1962, was cold storage for perishable stock, and the renovation project included an upgrade to the refrigeration system, as well as the alarm and fire suppression systems. All asbestos materials have been removed from the building before renovations begin on October 11, 2024.

The Busan Storage Center, located in the Dong-gu or East District of Busan, houses several warehouses and storage facilities, mainly to receive supplies brought into South Korea via Busan’s Pier 8.

U.S. Army Garrison Daegu manages base operations at six U.S. Army installations and 11 locations in South Korea’s Area IV, which stretches from Daejeon to Busan. As a permanent center on the peninsula, it also provides support to the US Navy at Fleet Activities Chinhae in Jinhae and the US Marine Corps at Camp Mujuk in Pohang.

Major facilities include Camps Henry, Walker, and George in Daegu; Camp Carroll in Waegwan; Pier 8 and Busan Storage Center in Busan; and other smaller outposts. Major tenant units include the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, the 403rd Army Field Support Brigade and the US Army Materiel Supply Center-Korea.