Korea Forest Service and Jeonnam Province Fully Support... Prevent Large-Scale Wildfire in Gurye

Forest Service Deploys Evolution Helicopters Intensively for 3 Days to Avert Imminent Crisis
Jeonnam Province Manages On-Site Situation and Provides Emergency Support with Provincial Helicopters

[Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok] A potentially large-scale forest fire was averted from becoming a critical crisis thanks to the prompt crisis management support from the Korea Forest Service and Jeollanam-do Province.

On the 28th, Gurye-gun announced that a forest fire that broke out around 1 p.m. on the 25th in the hills of Hyogok-ri, Ganjeon-myeon, Gurye-gun, had the risk of expanding into a large-scale fire spreading to Baegunsan Mountain due to dry weather and wind. However, the Korea Forest Service helicopters and helicopters leased by local governments in Jeollanam-do were urgently deployed to prevent the forest fire disaster.

The fire that occurred that day is presumed to have been ignited by sparks during the process of clearing a bracken field with a mower by a nearby resident. Upon receiving the 119 emergency call, command vehicles, firefighting vehicles, and officials immediately dispatched firefighting personnel. Eleven helicopters from the Korea Forest Service and Jeollanam-do were urgently deployed to begin firefighting operations. However, due to dry weather and timely winds, the fire spread to adjacent forest areas, turning into a nighttime forest fire, and firefighting efforts continued until the next day.

The forest fire that started in the hills worsened as the flames crossed the ridges of seven valleys carried by the wind. Despite firefighting equipment and personnel efforts, the fire continued to expand, increasing the risk of spreading along the mountain range leading to Baegunsan Mountain.

In this situation, firefighting helicopters dispatched urgently by the Korea Forest Service began water drops from the nearby Hyogok Reservoir at points where thick smoke was rising.

However, due to severe drought and strong winds, firefighting was not easy.

Especially as the fire moved to rugged terrain formed by cliffs and rocky slopes, access was impossible. The extreme drought and strong whirlwinds on the mountain ridges caused dry leaves, accumulated 20 to 30 centimeters deep and turned into humus, to conceal embers that reignited, making firefighting difficult.

Despite ongoing dry weather causing forest fires nationwide and making helicopter deployment difficult, continuous helicopter support was maintained thanks to the full support of the Korea Forest Service Situation Room Chief (Kim Manju) and the Jeollanam-do Eastern Regional Headquarters (Seo Eunsoo), which helped contain the flames and accelerate firefighting.

On the day of ignition, the 25th, four Korea Forest Service helicopters and seven leased helicopters from Jeollanam-do were deployed throughout the day. On the following day, as the fire continued, additional helicopters were dispatched: nine from the Korea Forest Service, five leased helicopters, and one from the Fire Agency participated in firefighting.

Notably, until the morning of the third day when smoldering embers persisted, three Korea Forest Service helicopters and two leased helicopters were deployed, even camping at the Seomjin River floodplain to provide support without hesitation.

The county expressed relief, stating that without the deployment of Korea Forest Service and Jeollanam-do leased helicopters during the fire, the main fire could not have been controlled and it might have spread to Baegunsan Mountain, leading to a major disaster.

County Governor Kim Sunho said, “The Korea Forest Service provided unprecedented full support for the Gurye forest fire suppression. We established an on-site command center and worked closely with the Korea Forest Service Situation Room. Without their support, we could not have avoided a disaster turning into a large forest fire. I thank the Korea Forest Service, Jeollanam-do Office, the firefighting teams, neighboring cities and counties, and all forest fire suppression personnel who participated in the firefighting efforts.”

Meanwhile, the forest fire resulted in the loss of 29 hectares of forest land, with estimated damages of about 260 million KRW including helicopter equipment and timber losses.

Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok kun5783@asiae.co.kr

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