Firefighters in Incheon are battling a large blaze at a Coupang logistics center that has burned for three days [1].
The incident highlights the extreme volatility of modern automated warehouses, where the combination of combustible goods and high-density battery storage can lead to catastrophic chain reactions.
The fire was first reported at 06:55 KST on July 18 [2]. Approximately 120 employees were evacuated from the facility in Seoknam-dong [2]. One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation during the initial response [3].
Emergency crews are currently focused on preventing the fire from reaching the fifth floor, which houses hundreds of lithium-battery-powered robots [4]. These robots pose a significant risk of chain explosions if ignited, which would complicate extinguishing efforts further [5].
Heavy rain and the dense storage of combustible goods on the lower floors have hindered the operation [5]. To manage the risk, the Incheon Seobuk Fire Department is using thermal imaging drones to monitor heat accumulation inside the building in real time.
"We are focusing on preventing the fire from spreading to the lower floors by concentrating equipment in areas where the combustion is most severe, while using thermal imaging drones to check the heat accumulation status within the building in real time," Ha Seok-kyung, chief of the Incheon Seobuk Fire Department, said [6].
Crews continue to deploy hoses and specialized equipment to stabilize the structure and prevent the blaze from reaching the robot storage zone [6].
“hundreds of lithium-battery-powered robots on the fifth floor”
This incident underscores the growing safety challenges associated with the 'robotization' of logistics. The presence of hundreds of lithium-ion batteries in a concentrated area creates a high-risk environment where traditional firefighting methods may be insufficient, potentially requiring new building codes and specialized suppression systems for automated warehouses.
