A fire broke out Monday afternoon at a shopping complex in Sang-dong, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, injuring three people, including a firefighter. The building has two below-ground floors and three above-ground floors.
Fire authorities said crews who responded to the scene reported seeing flames and thick black smoke rising from the basement in the early stages of the blaze. Authorities deployed 55 firefighters and 24 pieces of equipment, and crews brought the fire under initial control at around 3:45 p.m. — about one hour and 22 minutes after it broke out at around 2:30 p.m.
Two people in their 60s and 70s suffered smoke inhalation, while a firefighter in their 30s complained of leg pain and was taken to a hospital by paramedics.
"We plan to investigate the cause of the fire as soon as we finish clearing the remaining embers," a fire department official said, adding that all three injured, including the firefighter, were classified as having minor injuries.
betterj@heraldcorp.com
