Korea Forest Service: "Gayasan Wildfire Caused by Strong Winds at Night... 70% Containment Achieved"

Personnel affiliated with the Korea Forest Service are engaged in wildfire suppression work in the mountains. Photo is unrelated to the article. Provided by the Korea Forest Service.

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Forest Service is focusing on extinguishing the wildfire on Gayasan Mountain, but firefighting efforts are continuing into the night due to strong winds.

According to the Korea Forest Service on the 10th, the wildfire on Gayasan Mountain occurred around 12:42 PM at San 129-29, Madong, Gwangyang-si, Jeollanam-do (Gayasan).

Immediately after the wildfire broke out, the Korea Forest Service deployed 10 firefighting helicopters and 249 personnel to the site, achieving a 70% containment rate as of 6 PM.

However, at the site, after sunset, strong winds around Gayasan Mountain are causing signs of the wildfire spreading again, and the presence of cliffs and steep slopes is making it difficult for firefighting personnel to access the area, resulting in challenges during the extinguishing process.

Accordingly, the Korea Forest Service is mobilizing all ground firefighting personnel to the site while prioritizing the safety of the firefighting teams.

Meanwhile, the Gayasan Mountain wildfire is estimated to have started at a cemetery near a public nursing hospital for the elderly in Gwangyang-si and then spread as a wildfire.

The Korea Forest Service is currently securing the whereabouts of the suspect responsible for the Gayasan Mountain wildfire and conducting an investigation. Under the Forest Protection Act, wildfire perpetrators may face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won, regardless of negligence.

Ko Rak-sam, head of the Central Wildfire Prevention Headquarters at the Korea Forest Service, said, “We will do our utmost to extinguish the wildfire while paying close attention to the safety of firefighting personnel.” He added, “During the Lunar New Year holiday, the Korea Forest Service will strengthen monitoring of wildfire causes such as incense burning by visitors to ancestral graves, traditional sky lantern releases, and Jwibulnori (fireplay with burning cans), and will thoroughly prevent and crack down on wildfires caused by unauthorized burning.”

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