Firefighters were ordered to evacuate a Coupang logistics center in Seoknam-dong, Incheon, after a massive fire threatened to collapse the building [1, 2].

The emergency order highlights the extreme danger facing first responders when industrial fires persist for extended periods. Such collapses can lead to mass casualties among personnel operating inside the structure.

The fire broke out around 6:55 a.m. on Saturday [1]. Efforts to extinguish the blaze continued throughout the weekend, with the fire persisting for between 24 [1] and 26 hours [2]. Due to the intensity of the heat and the duration of the fire, authorities detected a risk of structural failure.

At approximately 6:50 a.m. on Sunday, officials issued an emergency radio command for all personnel to exit the premises [1]. "A radio instruction was given to all firefighters to evacuate in an emergency," a fire official said [3].

To manage the scale of the disaster, the fire department issued a national firefighting mobilization order [3]. This directive allowed for the deployment of additional resources and personnel to conduct overnight suppression efforts. Despite these measures, the structural integrity of the facility deteriorated to a point where internal operations were no longer safe.

"As the risk of building collapse was detected, emergency evacuation orders were given to the suppression crews inside," a YTN reporter said [3].

The facility is located in the Namdong District of Incheon [1, 2]. Fire crews remain on the scene to monitor the site and prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent areas, while avoiding the unstable structure.

“A radio instruction was given to all firefighters to evacuate in an emergency”

The evacuation of first responders indicates that the fire reached a stage of structural compromise where the risk of a 'total collapse' outweighed the possibility of immediate suppression. The use of a national firefighting mobilization order suggests this was one of the most significant industrial fires in the region, requiring resources beyond local capacity to manage the hazard.