Gyeongbuk and Gangwon Wildfires Enter Second Night of Nighttime Suppression... Full Effort to Prevent Nighttime Wildfire Spread

by Jeong Ilwoong

Published 05 Mar.2022 21:55(KST)

On the 4th, the wildfire in Uljin spread to forests adjacent to urban areas, causing concern for the forestry authorities. Photo by Korea Forest Service

[Asia Economy (Uljin) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Wildfires in the Gyeongbuk and Gangwon areas have not been extinguished, and nighttime firefighting efforts have continued for the second day. The forestry authorities are struggling to control the main fires due to strong winds with instantaneous maximum speeds reaching 20 meters per second.

According to the forestry authorities on the 5th, a total of 11 wildfires occurred nationwide between 12 PM on the previous day and 6 PM on the 5th, with 7 fires extinguished. Nighttime wildfire suppression activities are ongoing in Uljin, Gyeongbuk; Samcheok, Yeongwol, and Gangneung, Gangwon; and Ansan, Gyeonggi.

In Gangwon Province, a wildfire broke out in Seongsan, Gangneung around 3:40 PM on the 5th, and the main fire was extinguished after about 17 hours. However, the forestry authorities reported that other wildfires are facing difficulties in suppression due to dry weather combined with strong winds.

Nighttime firefighting involves withdrawing all helicopters from the site and deploying firefighting vehicles and personnel to establish defense lines to prevent the spread of the wildfire.

To this end, the forestry authorities are ▲using thermal imaging drones to monitor wildfire progress in real time ▲deploying elite aerial firefighting teams and special wildfire suppression units appropriately to block wildfire spread ▲assigning firefighting personnel to protect residential areas and key facilities ▲and conducting preemptive water supply to prevent damage to homes and important facilities.

Wildfires in Gyeongbuk Uljin and Gangwon Samcheok have spread due to dry weather and strong winds, causing difficulties for the forestry authorities in controlling the main fires. On the 5th, the forestry authorities switched to a nighttime firefighting system at sunset, focusing on ground equipment and personnel to prevent the wildfire from spreading overnight, and are making every effort to contain the fires. Provided by the Korea Forest Service

Additionally, the forestry authorities plan to focus on extinguishing the main fires by mobilizing helicopters and firefighting personnel again at sunrise after conducting firefighting mainly with ground equipment and personnel during the night.

Meanwhile, as of 5 PM on the same day, the estimated forest damage area in the wildfire zones of Gangwon Province is recorded as 450 hectares in Ok-gye and Donghae, Gangneung; 260 hectares in Samcheok; 75 hectares in Gimsatgat-myeon, Yeongwol; and 20 hectares in Seongsan, Gangneung. The total forest damage area in Gangwon is three times the size of Yeouido and 1,127 times the size of a soccer field.

Property damage includes the complete destruction of four houses in Ok-gye, Gangneung, one house in Samcheok, and partial destruction of the Gopo Village Hall in Wondeok-eup, Samcheok.

In Donghae, about 60 buildings including houses, warehouses, temples, and pensions in Mukho and Mangsang were damaged.

Many residents evacuated from their homes to shelters due to the wildfire.

Nam Tae-heon, Deputy Director of the Korea Forest Service, said, “The worst winter drought in 50 years is leading to wildfires across the country,” and expressed concern that “this wildfire is expected to cause the greatest damage since the 2000 East Coast wildfires.”