“Everyone, make sure the fire is completely suppressed and return safely with no casualties, do you copy?”
“Copy that!”

This is a scene from the campaign video ‘Got Your Back?,’ showcasing the Hydrogen fuel cell bus provided by Hyundai Motor Group to encourage firefighters dispatched to disaster sites to get enough rest, and refresh themselves before continuing their duties.

‘Do you copy?’ and ‘Copy that.’ are radio abbreviations meaning ‘Do you understand?’ and ‘Understood,’ respectively. In the video, a senior firefighter with 33 years of experience imparts to junior firefighters that protecting their own lives and getting enough rest to avoid fatigue are just as important as saving the lives of others.

Following this advice, the scene transitions to firefighters taking a brief yet revitalizing rest in a zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell bus in the midst of battling fierce flames and smoke in extremely dangerous conditions.

The special bus featured in the video is the 8th Support Bus for Recovery, donated by Hyundai Motor Group to the Jeju Island Fire Department last June. Earlier, in March 2023, Hyundai Motor Group pledged to provide 8 Support Buses for Recovery (7 diesel buses and 1 hydrogen fuel cell bus) at the ‘First Together Sharing Project’ event hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Before this, only 10 vehicles were available in all of South Korea to allow firefighters to rest while fighting fires or providing disaster relief. Recognizing this deficiency, Hyundai Motor Group has sequentially provided 8 Support Buses for Recovery from the program’s inception until 2024, one for each of the 8 fire departments in North Gyeongsang Province, Gangwon Province, the city of Incheon, North Jeolla Province, South Chungcheong Province, the city of Ulsan, and Jeju Island.

Support Buses for Recovery are premium custom vehicles specially designed based on Hyundai Motor Group’s mobile office, ‘Universe Mobile Office,’ and actively reflect the opinions of on-site firefighters throughout the vehicle manufacturing process, including the interior and exterior design, and specifications.

First, the vehicles’ exterior is designed to allow firefighters to clean off after fighting fires or performing rescues. Air and water guns located in the cargo area can be used by firefighters to clean off their gear, which can then be stored on fire suit hangers and in shoe dryers. Firefighters can then board the bus directly, optimizing the flow of movement.

Meanwhile, the interior of the vehicles is divided into individual rest areas, cooking spaces, and meeting spaces (this data is based on the hydrogen fuel cell bus). The eight individual rest areas are designed to afford firefighters some privacy while encouraging them to let go and rest, consisting of premium reclining seats to allow for comfortable relaxation, each equipped with entertainment displays, charging outlets, and personal storage.

In the center of the interior, there is a cooking space where firefighters can replenish lost fluids and calories, while the innermost meeting area contains a ‘ㄷ’-shaped sofa, folding tables, a 52-inch display, and a video conferencing system, allowing it to function as a field command center.

Cleaning the ash and dust that the vehicles will be exposed to at disaster sites was also carefully considered in their design. All interior materials and furniture, including walls, floors, and seats, are made from durable, contamination-resistant materials, to ensure that the space stays comfortable for firefighters over long periods.