Coupang logistics center fire controlled after 61 hours, exposing safety flaws

Firefighters finally gained control of a blaze at a Coupang logistics center in Incheon, South Korea, after 61 hours of intense effort. The fire, which began early on June 18, was declared under control by the evening of June 20. The operation involved a massive deployment of 231 pieces of equipment and 812 personnel, including national fire-mobilization orders.

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There are hundreds of robots using lithium batteries on the 5th floor. There is a risk of the fire rapidly spreading throughout the building if combustion expands.

Tensions escalated on June 20 when it was discovered that hundreds of robots powered by lithium batteries were located on the fifth floor, directly below the fire's origin. These batteries, equivalent to 20 electric car batteries, are difficult to extinguish with conventional methods due to thermal runaway. Fire officials expressed concern about the potential for rapid fire spread throughout the building.

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In deep-seated fires burning inside combustible materials, the effectiveness of external water spraying is limited.

The incident has underscored the inherent risks associated with large logistics centers in densely populated urban areas. Firefighters struggled to contain the "deep-seated fire" burning through stacked goods like clothing, with external water application proving insufficient. The "mezzanine structure," common in high-ceiling logistics facilities designed for storage efficiency, also complicated firefighting efforts by creating vertical shafts for flames and oxygen.

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High ceilings in logistics centers, designed for storage efficiency, not only act as channels for flames but also supply oxygen, creating a 'giant furnace'.

Adding to the concerns, the facility was constructed under older safety regulations. South Korea's updated "Fire Safety Performance Standards for Warehouse Facilities," which mandate advanced sprinkler systems and specific installation heights for water-mist nozzles, took effect in January 2024. The affected Coupang center, completed in 2023, does not fall under these newer, stricter requirements. The incident follows a deadly 2020 fire at another logistics center, which spurred the development of these improved safety standards. With 81 large logistics warehouses nationwide, many built to older codes, the vulnerability of these facilities to large-scale fires remains a significant concern.

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As logistics centers are trending towards larger sizes, fires, once they occur, tend to escalate into major incidents and take a long time to extinguish.