At approximately 5:31 p.m. on the 25th, a fire broke out at a cosmetics raw material factory in the industrial complex of Pungse-myeon, Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province.
The fire authorities issued a Level 1 response within 8 minutes, and when flames made it difficult to suppress the fire, they upgraded to a Level 2 response at around 6:06 p.m.
The fire authorities, deploying more than 60 pieces of equipment and over 120 personnel to extinguish the flames, downgraded to a Level 1 response around 6:39 p.m. and successfully contained the large fire by approximately 6:52 p.m.
A Level 1 response means that all personnel from the local fire station are dispatched, while a Level 2 response involves mobilizing personnel and equipment from 5 to 6 neighboring fire stations.
Seven factory employees evacuated on their own, confirming that there were no casualties.
The fire, which burned three of the four buildings in the factory, was completely extinguished by around 9:22 p.m.
As smoke spread to a nearby residential area, Cheonan City sent out a disaster text message urging that 'due to the large amount of smoke, vehicles should reroute around the area, and nearby residents should be cautious about their safety.'
Fire authorities and police are investigating the detailed cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.