Gyeongbuk Bonghwa 'Wildfire Level 3'... Nighttime Firefighting Activities by Special Wildfire Suppression Team Members

A fire broke out around 1:29 PM on the 5th in a mountain area in Bongha-eup, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongbuk Province. The forestry authorities issued a Level 3 response around 7 PM that day and are conducting firefighting operations.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy (Bonghwa) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A Level 3 wildfire alert has been issued in Bonghwa, Gyeongbuk. At the site, special wildfire suppression teams are currently engaged in nighttime firefighting activities.

According to the Korea Forest Service Central Wildfire Prevention Headquarters on the 5th, the Bonghwa wildfire occurred around 1:29 PM in Hwacheon-ri, Bonghwa-eup, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongbuk.

The Korea Forest Service issued a Level 3 wildfire alert at 7 PM considering the wildfire scale and weather conditions in Hwacheon-ri.

Level 3 wildfire alerts are issued when the estimated damage area is between 100 hectares and less than 3,000 hectares, wind speeds exceed 11 m/s, and firefighting is expected to take between 24 and 48 hours. Upon issuance of a Level 3 alert, 100% of personnel from the responsible agency, 50% from adjacent agencies, 100% of equipment from the responsible agency, up to 30% of available equipment from adjacent agencies, and 100% of available wide-area firefighting helicopters can be deployed to the site. The integrated command center for the Bonghwa wildfire is headed by the Governor of Gyeongbuk Province.

As the wildfire continues into the night, firefighting efforts have shifted to a nighttime operation system at sunset. Thermal imaging drones have been deployed on site to track the wildfire progress in real time.

Nighttime firefighting personnel include 465 special wildfire suppression team members and 158 firefighters and police officers, totaling 623 personnel.

Im Sang-seop, Director of the Korea Forest Service Central Wildfire Prevention Headquarters, stated, “We are facing difficulties in wildfire suppression due to dry weather and strong winds,” and urged, “Residents of Bonghwa-gun are requested to pay close attention to disaster broadcasts from forest authorities and Bonghwa-gun and respond accordingly.”

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