Following the tragic March 2008 death of American ESL teacher William Kapoun in a Seoul apartment fire, I decided to investigate the fire hazards commonly facing teachers in a foreign country. William Kapoun suffered 3rd degree burns over 70% of his body after being trapped in an apartment blaze police still have yet to determine the cause of. Kapoun later died in hospital, but not after accumulating tens of thousands of dollars in hospital fees. He did not have adequate health care from his employer, leaving the hospital bill for his parents to pay. Luckily, the foreign community generously took on a huge portion of the bill by donating to funds setup by Kapouns parents and friends. For more on this story, refer to ESL Daily's previous articles: http://blog.esldaily.org/2008/03/10/update-foreign-teacher-william-kapoun-passes-away.aspx  & http://blog.esldaily.org/2008/03/04/uninsured-teacher-caught-in-apartment-blaze-korea.aspx) 

After conducting an extensive web search, the number one recommendation I found for fire safety is to ensure your home has a working fire alarm. Other important preparations should include an emergency escape method, fire extinguisher, electrical safety devises, general fire knowledge and disposal of any hazardous areas prone to fire (ex. Stove, light sockets, heaters). Visit the US Fire Administration website for further important safety tips: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/  

(3rd, 4th and 5th floor fire alarms)

(clutter from nearby apartments)

(expired fire extinguisher)

(poor condition conduit)

As you can see from the following pictures of my own apartment building, there is no fire safety at all. The fire alarms are old and have probably not been tested in years. They are in pieces with wires hanging out and advertisements displayed on them. The fire extinguisher has not been inspected since the building was built (April 20th 1989) and expired 14 years ago. Conduits are exposed and covered in dust and old clothing is used to cover them. Old boxes and cloths are gathered in people's apartments thus increasing the risk of fire. Finally, there is no secondary escape method in the apartment. 

Because I believe in community living, I first approached the apartment security guard and showed him the expired dates on the extinguishers and problems with the conduits. This had no impact on the man at all. I didn't know what else to do, so I approached a co-worker for some help. They informed me of what I like to call a "Korean truth." Since all apartments in Korea are made of thick concrete walls, one shouldn't worry about fires. Apparently my co-worker had not heard of the apartment fire that killed William Kapoun. And smoke is just as much a killer as flames are, so if concrete doesn't burn, the smoke from a grease fire can cause just as much damage. Noticing the clutter around my apartment building, I realized I had to come up with my own plan, despite the illogical reassurances from my co-worker. 

Smoke detectors are easy to find in large shopping centers and electrical shops no matter where you are in the world. There is also the option of having them sent from your home country. Fire extinguishers are always a good item to have around the house, and in my travels around the world, I found them easy to find. The final thing to do for your home is to have a secondary escape route. Rope ladders are cheap and can be also easily found. Attaching one to my 5th floor apartment set me back about $40, not too huge of an investment when thinking about your life. As a final note, check out your health insurance; make sure you are covered in case of a major emergency. It may not happen to you, but there's always a risk and it is better to be prepared. 

By Korea Jim