SEOUL FIREFIGHTERS LEND A HELPING HAND

[Anchor Lead]

Firefighters in Seoul have carried out an unusual mission. They volunteered to clean up a burned house belonging to an elderly man recognized for his service to the nation.

[Pkg]

From floor to ceiling, the burnt kitchen was covered in ash and soot. A fire broke out at a house in Songpa-gu District in Seoul on September 16. The fire began from a pot and spread to a calendar on the wall and then to the ceiling. The homeowner, a man in his 70s surnamed Hwang, burnt his fingers while trying to put out the fire himself. Wallpaper has to be replaced due to the ash and soot. But Hwang cannot afford it. Hwang is a Vietnam War veteran and has no family. He lives on government subsidies of 700,000 won a month. To make matters worse, he even received surgery for esophageal cancer in May. After learning about Hwang's hardships, local firefighters and volunteer groups rolled up their sleeves to help him.

[Soundbite] SHIN HO-CHIL(SONGPA FIRE STATION) : "We agreed in unison to help restore his house. He declined our proposal at first, but with our persuasion, he eventually accepted."

They took all the burnt items out of the house and removed the damaged wallpaper. New wallpaper and kitchen cabinets were donated by a local volunteer organization. The firefighters also raised funds to install new shelves. The burned house was fully cleaned and repaired in two days.

[Soundbite] HWANG(HOMEOWNER) : "I moved in to this house seven years ago. I got new kitchen cabinets and flooring due to the fire. I am grateful for the fire station's support."

The Songpa firefighters said they were happy to help a neighbor in need, ahead of the Chuseok thanksgiving holiday.