Two lives were lost in a fire at a meat processing factory in Mungyeong City, North Gyeongsang Province, on Feb. 1. Security camera footage showed that two firefighters, Kim Soo-kwang and Park Soo-hoon, headed to the third floor of the building after arriving on the scene, while several other firefighters were extinguishing flames outside. Soon after, a big explosion occurred on the third floor and flames quickly spread across the entire building. Park, 35, and Kim, 27, were later found dead. According to the police, about 180 18-liter containers of vegetable oil were located on the third floor and the flammable materials ignited on exposure to flames. Their deaths have led the public to ponder the precarious circumstances firefighters deal with when fighting fires. Due to various hazards, they risk their lives while extinguishing flames and rescuing people from danger. Death is always so close that their lives can be taken away at any moment. Many firefighters are grappling with post-traumatic stress dis order (PTSD), depression and other work-related diseases. In an August 2021 survey of 1,117 firefighters conducted by Seoul Shinmun, a local newspaper, 16.6 percent of respondents reported having experienced symptoms of PTSD. Shin Dong-kook, 44, who worked as a firefighter for 14 years, shared how tough living as a firefighter is on an MBN show aired in March 2022. Like many other firefighters, he said he experienced PTSD, depression and sleep deprivation. He said he has had various harrowing experiences when responding to a fire or other disaster: he has seen numerous dead bodies, multiple burned corpses and a person who had been crushed to death by heavy machinery. Rescue firefighters are often forced to rush into accident sites without being equipped with devices such as thermal imaging cameras or radios, which are essential for detecting people and fire points in engulfing smoke and flames. Firefighters should be provided with the essential equipment to be able to first protect themselves. Education sho uld also be carried out to enhance the capabilities of commanding officers and secure the safety of the firefighters themselves. Mental and physical exhaustion are other problems most firefighters face. They work more than 240 hours per month on average, 34 hours more than a typical salaried employee who works eight hours per day, five days a week. Firefighters work unforgiving monthly shifts. For example, in the first week, a firefighter works five weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In the second and third weeks, the same firefighter works 15 hours each weekday on a night shift from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next morning. During the weekend in between, they work 24 hours from 9 a.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday. They usually work without much time for proper rest. Such a difficult work schedule invariably impacts their overall health negatively. Overwork causes stress, which negatively affects sleep. This in turn affects their concentration and impairs judgment. In addition to extinguishing flames, their other key m ission is saving the lives of those in danger. This job requires them to maintain focus and make sound judgments at work. As long as they work long hours without sufficient rest, it's tough to stay focused on their mission. Understaffed firehouses are the result of budget shortages. In a speech at the funerals of the two firefighters held on Saturday in a North Gyeongsang Province government building, Governor Lee Cheol-woo vowed to do his utmost to improve the working conditions of all firefighters and to not forget the sacrifices of the two heroes. Lee needs to keep his promise. Policymakers and lawmakers need to come up with necessary measures to help hard-working firefighters find time to rest and make them feel that their work is rewarding. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the major political parties should take necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies. About 1,000 people, including bereaved families, fellow firefighters and politicians, attended their funerals and bade their tearful farewells to the fallen heroes. Rest in peace. Source: Yonhap News Agency