Daejeon Firefighters Battle 384 Damaged Batteries Post-Fire

Fire at Data Center Disrupts Government Services

A fire triggered by a malfunctioning lithium-ion battery has caused significant disruptions to the country's key administrative computer network. The incident, which occurred in a data center located at the National Information Resources Service in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, has led to delays in firefighting efforts and a slow recovery process for 647 government services affected by the blaze.

According to the Daejeon Fire Department, firefighters have been working tirelessly to vent smoke and heat from the data center. They are also relocating internal battery packs and submerging them in mobile water tanks. The fire completely destroyed 384 lithium-ion battery packs rated at 58 volts (V) inside the facility. As of 4 p.m. on the same day, 133 packs—roughly one-third of the total—had been moved outside, with operations expected to continue until the following day.

A source from the Daejeon Fire Department explained that cooling the batteries by submerging them in water is particularly challenging due to the thermal runaway phenomenon of lithium-ion batteries. “While we aim to finish by dawn tomorrow, we cannot predict when the operation will end, as we have to halt relocation and resume work repeatedly in case of battery explosions,” the source said.

Although smoke is being vented using blowers inside the building, soot and smoke still fill the site, complicating damage assessment. It is expected that the full extent of the fire’s containment can only be determined after all damaged batteries are removed.

Investigation into the Cause of the Fire

The battery that initially caught fire was found to be an aged unit, having been installed 11 years ago—beyond its 10-year warranty period. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the battery in question was installed in August 2014, “one year past its warranty period.”

The fire began the previous day when a spark occurred from one of the lithium-ion batteries during replacement work in the data center on the fifth floor of the National Information Resources Service’s Daejeon headquarters. The blaze started while replacing the aged battery.

Response and Ongoing Efforts

The headquarters plans to hold a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at 8 p.m. on the same day, presided over by the Minister of the Interior and Safety. This meeting aims to assess the situation and determine further actions to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Earlier, around 8:20 p.m. on the 26th, a fire erupted due to a lithium-ion battery explosion in the data center on the fifth floor of the National Information Resources Service’s Daejeon headquarters. The main flames were extinguished approximately 10 hours later, around 6:30 a.m. on the 27th.

The fire occurred while power was being cut off for battery replacement work. During the process, a worker from the contracted company sustained first-degree burns to the face and arms. The incident highlights the risks associated with handling aging and potentially unstable battery systems, especially in critical infrastructure such as data centers.

Impact on Government Operations

The disruption caused by the fire has had far-reaching consequences for government operations. With 647 services affected, citizens may experience delays in accessing essential administrative functions. The recovery process is expected to be slow, as authorities focus on safely removing and disposing of the damaged batteries.

This event underscores the importance of regular maintenance and timely replacement of critical components in data centers. It also raises questions about the safety protocols in place for handling lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in modern technology but can pose serious risks if not properly managed.

As the investigation continues, officials are likely to review existing safety standards and consider implementing stricter guidelines to prevent similar incidents in the future. The lessons learned from this fire could lead to improved procedures for battery management and emergency response in high-risk environments.