Korea to set up AI-assisted fire response system

Firefighters extinguish fire at a house in Buan-gun, North Jeolla Province, Monday. (Yonhap)

The 119 emergency response system plans to utilize artificial intelligence to find the most optimal routes to deploy firefighters and equipment, the National Fire Agency said Friday.

According to the NPA plan, a database of the firefighting capacities in the region will be established and utilized in the response to emergencies. This will allow the commanding officer to deploy the closest fire trucks to the site, regardless of which region the report was submitted to.

The current response system is based on jurisdiction, with the fire authorities in the region where the report was submitted being the first responders.

Real-time information collected by drones and other equipment will provide the control center with the estimated route of the flames, along with recommendations for dispatching the resources needed to effectively extinguish the fire.

The NPA said AI will be used to detect fires involving batteries of electric cars, which have been increasing.

Other plans include adopting protective gear for the firefighters, such as imaging cameras, carbon fiber helmets and powered exoskeletons.

"The emergency response system will be transformed into a scientific one based on data and AI, rather than the previous method of relying on experience (of the officials)," acting NPA chief Kim Seung-ryong said. "We will promptly push for these goals to ensure that the state-of-the-art technology protects the safety of our rescue workers and safeguards the people."