A firefighter from the South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Fire Department removes a wasp nest from a boiler room at a residence in Jaeun-myeon, Sinan-gun, on July 28. Wasp-related calls have been rising as the insects become more active between July and September. The temperature in Sinan-gun, where a heat wave advisory is in effect, stood at 30.7 degrees Celsius. [Provided by South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Fire Department. Redistribution and DB prohibited]
A firefighter from the South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Fire Department removes a wasp nest from a boiler room at a residence in Jaeun-myeon, Sinan-gun, on July 28. Wasp-related calls have been rising as the insects become more active between July and September. The temperature in Sinan-gun, where a heat wave advisory is in effect, stood at 30.7 degrees Celsius. [Provided by South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Fire Department. Redistribution and DB prohibited]

The South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Fire Department said Sunday it will flexibly adjust response times for non-emergency lifestyle safety calls — such as wasp nest removals — that pose no risk to human life.

The department announced the policy to protect field personnel from heat-related illness and ensure safe operations. During summer, calls for wasp nest removals and similar lifestyle safety issues increase sharply. Firefighters responding in the midday heat must wear full protective gear and safety equipment, significantly raising their risk of heat-related illness.

When a heat wave advisory is in effect, the department will coordinate with callers to reschedule non-emergency lifestyle safety responses to cooler parts of the day when field conditions are safer.

Immediate responses will still be dispatched for bee stings or nests located near building entrances, school routes or public facilities where injury is a concern.

"For non-emergency lifestyle safety calls, if residents report in the morning or late afternoon and evening when temperatures are relatively lower, our personnel can also work safely," said Lee O-suk, head of the South Jeolla-Gwangju Integrated Fire Department.

Lee added that residents unsure whether a situation is an emergency should not delay calling. "Just contact 119 and describe the situation to the dispatcher, who can assess the level of risk," she said.


sij@heraldcorp.com