A fire broke out at the Hyundai Motor Group battery research building at its Uiwang Research Center in Sam-dong, Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do, at 12:48 a.m. on the 28th and was extinguished after approximately three hours.

Fire scene [Provided by reader]

No casualties were reported, as employees evacuated on their own after hearing the emergency evacuation broadcast following the outbreak of the fire.

The fire is believed to have started in a waste storage room (approximately 10 square meters) on the first floor of the eight-story building, which has a total floor area of about 33,000 square meters.

Although the storage room contained automotive waste battery components, the flames did not spread to the outside.

Concerned about the potential spread of the fire to the upper floors, fire authorities issued a Level 1 response (requiring the deployment of 31 to 50 vehicles) and mobilized 37 pieces of equipment and 111 personnel to contain the blaze, successfully bringing the main fire under control by 3:10 a.m.

Subsequently, determining that there was no further risk of the fire spreading, the authorities lifted the response level at 3:14 a.m. and completely extinguished the fire at 3:31 a.m., about three hours after it began.

Uiwang City sent out emergency text alerts twice, at 2:05 a.m. and 2:18 a.m., advising residents, "Due to a fire in Sam-dong, Uiwang-si, smoke and odors are being generated; please keep your windows closed and take precautions to prevent damage."

A Hyundai Motor Group official stated, "Although the fire did not spread outside the point of origin, we have recommended that employees of the building work from home as a precaution," adding, "The specific extent of the damage will be identified after a fire investigation is conducted."

Police and fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage through an on-site inspection.