A massive Coupang fire at an Incheon logistics center continued burning Monday, nearly three days after ignition. Firefighters concentrated efforts on preventing flames from reaching hundreds of lithium battery-powered warehouse robots. Consequently, officials warned the blaze could spread rapidly if it reached the fifth floor.
Indeed, the fire began Saturday at 6:54 a.m. on the sixth floor of one building. It quickly spread to the seventh floor before crews managed to contain most flames. By Monday morning, firefighters had extinguished much of the fire in one building section. However, Fire Station Chief Hur Seok-kyung warned full containment would take considerably longer than initially expected.
Furthermore, authorities deployed 31 specialized firefighting vehicles alongside thermal-imaging drones to locate hidden heat pockets. Crews focused heavily on stopping the fire before it reached the fifth floor entirely. That floor housed lithium batteries with combined capacity equivalent to roughly 20 electric vehicles. Therefore, protecting this area became the top priority throughout weekend firefighting operations. In total, 813 firefighters and 231 pieces of equipment worked under a national mobilization order.
Additionally, authorities evacuated residents within 116 meters of the warehouse’s ramp area for safety. Deputy Mayor Kim Sang-seop confirmed 169 evacuees were staying across two emergency shelters nearby. Meanwhile, nearby schools and daycare centers closed Monday as a precautionary measure. Fortunately, no deaths occurred, though two firefighters suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation.
In response, Coupang Fulfillment Services pledged financial and medical support for affected evacuees and residents. The company also plans to distribute 13,500 masks across eight nearby elementary schools.
Meanwhile, police formed a 35-member team to investigate this Coupang fire’s exact cause. One employee alleged that fire shutters previously failed during false alarms before this incident. However, officials maintain that sprinklers and shutters functioned properly when firefighters first arrived. Going forward, investigators plan a joint inspection with forensic experts once operations conclude.
