Yeongdeok Wildfire, Korea Forest Service Chief Commands On-Site... "Focusing on Preventing Damage Spread"

Forest Service Chief Choi Byung-am is conducting on-site command at the Integrated Fire Control Headquarters in Gyeongbuk on the 16th. Photo by Korea Forest Service

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The head of the Korea Forest Service personally took command at the site of the wildfire re-ignition in Yeongdeok.

The Korea Forest Service announced on the 16th that Chief Choi Byung-am visited the Yeongdeok wildfire site and is currently directing operations on-site.

According to the Korea Forest Service, the wildfire re-ignited around 2:18 a.m. on the 16th in the area of San 5-1, Samhwa-ri, Jipum-myeon, Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk Province. Although the fire that broke out the previous day was extinguished after 6 hours and 54 minutes, it reignited due to climatic influences.

Currently, strong winds are blowing in Samhwa-ri, Jipum-myeon, amid dry weather conditions. The Korea Forest Service comprehensively considered wind speed at the site, the affected area, and firefighting conditions, and at 12:45 p.m., upgraded the wildfire alert to ‘Level 3’ (following the Level 2 alert issued at 8:25 a.m.).

Wildfire Level 3 is issued when the expected damage area exceeds 100 hectares and the average wind speed is 7 m/s or higher. At this level, the Korea Forest Service can mobilize 100% of personnel, equipment, and helicopters from the jurisdictional agencies and 50% of personnel and equipment from adjacent agencies to fight the fire.

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

Through this, the Korea Forest Service is currently deploying 36 wildfire firefighting helicopters, 17 wildfire command and firefighting vehicles, 15 fire trucks, and 608 personnel including special wildfire firefighting teams and forest officials at the wildfire site to conduct suppression operations.

In particular, under the Forest Protection Act, an integrated wildfire command center has been established on-site, and considering the possibility of the fire spreading into a large-scale wildfire, the integrated wildfire firefighting command was transferred from the Yeongdeok County Governor to the Governor of Gyeongbuk Province (as of 12:45 p.m.).

Chief Choi will hold a countermeasure meeting with the Governor of Gyeongbuk Province at the wildfire site and provide integrated command and support.

Chief Choi stated, “The Gyeongbuk region is currently very vulnerable to wildfires as dry weather and strong wind advisories are simultaneously in effect. At the wildfire site, thick smoke is causing difficulties in firefighting, and the Korea Forest Service plans to focus on ensuring rapid main fire suppression through cooperation with related agencies.”

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