Wildfire Rekindles in Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk... Korea Forest Service Issues Level 2 Fire Alert

Wildfire re-ignition site in Jipum-myeon, Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Provided by Korea Forest Service

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A forest fire has reoccurred in Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, and the forestry authorities are making all-out efforts to respond.

According to the Central Forest Fire Prevention Headquarters of the Korea Forest Service on the 16th, the forest fire reignited around 2:18 a.m. on the 16th in San 5-1, Samhwa-ri, Jipum-myeon, Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk Province. Previously, a forest fire had occurred in this area the day before and was extinguished.

The forestry authorities deployed 23 forest fire-fighting helicopters, 279 personnel including special forest fire-fighting teams and forestry officials, 32 firefighters, and 70 others, totaling 381 forest fire-fighting personnel to the site to combat the fire.

In particular, the forestry authorities comprehensively assessed the wind speed in the area, the damage area, and the fire-fighting conditions at the site, and as of 8:25 a.m., issued a ‘Forest Fire Stage 2’ alert. They plan to mobilize forest fire-fighting helicopters and personnel from the relevant agencies to make every effort to extinguish the fire early.

With the issuance of the Forest Fire Stage 2 alert, 100% of personnel, equipment, and helicopters owned by the relevant agencies will be mobilized; 50% of personnel and 30% of equipment from neighboring agencies; and 100% of helicopters and drones.

Ko Rak-sam, head of the Central Forest Fire Prevention Headquarters of the Korea Forest Service, said, “We will mobilize all available forest fire-fighting personnel and equipment to prevent the fire from becoming large-scale and make every effort to extinguish it,” adding, “We will do our best to ensure the fire is extinguished safely through cooperation with related agencies.”

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