Gwangju Seo-gu 'Spring Wildfire Prevention Comprehensive Countermeasures Headquarters' Activated

Published 19 Jan.2022 14:56(KST)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dong-ho] Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, is advancing the operation of the Spring Wildfire Prevention Comprehensive Countermeasures Headquarters ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday to achieve zero wildfire occurrences.

Seo-gu announced on the 19th that it will begin emergency duty at the Spring Wildfire Prevention Comprehensive Countermeasures Headquarters from the wildfire caution period starting on the 24th until May 15.

This year, the wildfire prevention headquarters, which has been operated during the spring wildfire caution period (annually from February 1 to May 15), will be established earlier, and specialized wildfire prevention and suppression teams will be deployed mainly in vulnerable areas to conduct wildfire monitoring and crack down on burning activities, among other wildfire prevention efforts.

Spring is a season with low atmospheric humidity, and burning activities for cultivating rice paddies and fields pose a high risk of leading to wildfires.

Seo-gu is strengthening wildfire prevention and public awareness campaigns, thoroughly removing risk factors in vulnerable areas in advance, and at the same time, plans to fully mobilize monitoring personnel and equipment in case of emergencies to focus on initial wildfire suppression.

Additionally, in accordance with the seasonal management system to reduce fine dust (December 2021 to March 2022), strict crackdowns will be conducted on carrying fire within 100 meters of forests or burning rice paddies, field ridges, and agricultural waste.

A Seo-gu official stated, “We will strengthen wildfire prevention publicity and crackdown activities during the spring to conduct frequent surveillance activities to prevent wildfire occurrences, and in case a wildfire occurs, we plan to minimize forest damage through rapid initial suppression.”

He added, “We ask for the active cooperation of residents to refrain from burning rice paddies, field ridges, and garbage near forest-adjacent areas.”