Hoax fire calls increase by 33 pct last year: data

Hoax calls to the fire service increased by nearly 33 percent last year, National Fire Agency data showed Thursday, prompting calls to toughen punishment for such false alerts. A total of 1,937 hoax calls were made to the fire service between 2019 and 2023, according to the data submitted to Rep. Kim Sang-wook of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). The number of malicious false alarms increased from 407 cases in 2019 to 665 cases in 2020, before it plummeted to 249 calls in 2021. In 2022, the number inched back up to 264 cases, while 352 calls were reported last year, a 33.3 percent leap. By region, most hoax phone calls were made in Seoul with 156 calls, or 44.3 percent, followed by Daejeon with 55 calls, 39 in Gyeonggi Province and 30 calls in Gangwon Province. The sudden decline in the number of hoax calls in 2021 is attributed to the enforcement of a fine of up to 5 million won (US$3,743) for the illegal act that came into effect in January of the same year. However, most of the callers were left unpunished as they were subject to punishment only in cases where the calls led to crews being sent out. "If the mobilization of firefighters is delayed in real emergencies due to such prank calls, the precious lives of people may be at risk," Kim said, calling for a change in public perception and response measures on the part of the government and the National Assembly. Source: Yonhap News Agency