Bucheon:A devastating fire at a metalworking factory in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, resulted in the death of one firefighter and injuries to seven others. The blaze, which occurred on Friday, was reportedly ignited by oil vapor during a metal cleaning operation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, officials have identified the probable cause as an oil mist catching fire, with investigators noting that workers were using paint thinner to clean metal parts at the time. The fire was extinguished around two and a half hours after it started.

The tragedy unfolded as one firefighter went into cardiac arrest and was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Among the injured, another fireman sustained serious injuries.

A comprehensive on-site inspection was conducted by a joint team of firefighters, police, the National Forensic Service (NFS), and the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation. Their investigation suggests that vapors from the evaporating thinner may have been ignited by a spark from static electricity, an electrical discharge, or frictional heat.

Officials observed that the work area lacked crucial safety equipment, including explosion-prevention facilities. The inspection team discovered approximately a dozen containers of thinner, some open, located just 1 to 2 meters from the fire's point of origin. The presence of hundreds of paint cans at the site is believed to have accelerated the fire's spread.

The team intends to request a detailed analysis of the residual cleaning solvent from the NFS to further understand the fire's cause.