HOW TO SPOT FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

[Anchor Lead]

When a fire break out, putting it out in the initial stages is the most crucial, and in the process fire extinguishers play a decisive role. But it's quite difficult to locate fire extinguishers at large public facilities like supermarkets and bus terminals. Next, we introduce some bright ideas that help people find and use fire extinguishers quickly in the case of an emergency.

[Pkg]

A downtown underground shopping mall housing 180 stores... It is equipped with over 100 fire extinguishers as a safety precaution. But the extinguishers are rarely given due attention and treatment. Some are tucked away behind a mannequin or under a table. Some are placed between showcases. It is questionable if they will be put to use in time when a fire breaks out.

[Soundbite] CHOI YOUNG-SOOK(CHUNCHEON RESIDENT) : "It would be difficult to use to put out a fire. So it will be better if fire extinguishers are placed in easy-to-find sites."

A street musician plays a fire extinguisher, instead of a violin. One takes off into space. Another is depicted as a work of art in a frame. Jointly developed by the Gangwon Fire Headquarters and three design colleges in the province, these paintings are aimed at helping people easily spot where fire extinguishers are located. The background is mainly painted black to make the red fire extinguishers more prominent.

[Soundbite] LEE CHEOL(DESIGN PROF. KANGWON NATIONAL UNIV.) : "From an artistic perspective, fire extinguishers aren't deemed aesthetically pleasing. Artistic features are added to them through these designs."

These speciality fire extinguishers were installed in ten crowded public facilities around three cities of Gwangwon-do Province.

[Soundbite] OH HYUN-JIK(SUPERMARKET CUSTOMER) : "In harmony with the wall painting, even children find the fire extinguisher pretty and good."

The Gangwon Fire Headquarters plans to install these extinguishers in more provincial cities next year.