<기사제목>Forest Service Extinguishes Wildfire in Cheorwon, Gangwon After 16 Hours

On the 15th, when the 21st general election is held, the wildfire risk index is high due to high temperatures and dry weather, requiring special caution to prevent wildfires. Provided by the Korea Forest Service

[Asia Economy (Gangwon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Forest Service successfully extinguished a wildfire that occurred in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province within 16 hours.

According to the Korea Forest Service on the 15th, the wildfire started around 5:28 PM the previous day in Jadeung-ri, Seomyeon, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do, and was fully extinguished around 8:50 AM the following day.

Currently, the Korea Forest Service Central Wildfire Prevention Headquarters has deployed a professional investigation and inspection team to the site to determine the cause of the wildfire and is focusing on a precise survey of the damage area using drones. No casualties have been reported so far.

Earlier, the Central Wildfire Prevention Headquarters of the Korea Forest Service urgently dispatched 185 members of the specialized wildfire suppression unit to the scene at the initial outbreak of the fire and began firefighting efforts.

However, after sunset, firefighting helicopters could not be deployed to the site, so a professional drone team was dispatched to predict the scale, direction, and spread path of the wildfire using thermal imaging cameras, focusing on establishing firebreaks.

Additionally, from dawn, 11 firefighting helicopters, including three extra-large helicopters, were concentrated at the site, completing the wildfire suppression about an hour and 30 minutes after helicopter deployment.

Park Jong-ho, head of the Korea Forest Service (and Central Wildfire Prevention Headquarters), stated, “Regardless of intent, wildfire perpetrators will be severely punished under the Forest Protection Act,” and added, “Since the nationwide weather remains very dry with a wildfire risk index at the ‘high’ level even on the day of the National Assembly general election, we urge everyone to actively participate in wildfire prevention by refraining from handling fire-related materials near forest areas.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.