Gyeonggi-do Mobilizes Full Effort for Spring Wildfire Response... Expands Operation of 'Mobile Inspection Teams'

73-Item Crackdown Team to Operate Until April 30

Photo by Korea Forest Service

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-chul] Amid the recent occurrence of numerous large and small wildfires across the country, Gyeonggi Province has launched an all-out response by extending the period and increasing the scale of intensive mobile patrols for large wildfires.

On the 15th, Gyeonggi Province stated, "With the increase in spring visitors and farming activities since April and the continuation of dry weather, the situation requires constant vigilance."

The province decided to extend the special measures period for large wildfires, originally scheduled until the 17th, until the end of this month, and to expand the "Wildfire Prevention Mobile Patrol Teams" from 11 teams to 73 teams, including all officials from three forestry-related departments of the provincial government and city and county officials.

The teams will operate flexibly until the national disaster crisis alert for wildfires is downgraded from "Warning" to "Caution." They will focus on cracking down on activities such as burning rice paddies and field edges, agricultural waste and various household garbage incineration, smoking, and cooking within forests, especially along hiking trails, farmland, parks, and areas adjacent to forests.

If caught illegally burning within 100 meters of a forest, a fine of 300,000 KRW will be imposed. If a wildfire is caused by negligence, endangering the public, the offender may face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW.

According to the province, 102 wildfires, accounting for 25% of the nationwide total of 410 cases, have occurred in Gyeonggi Province this year as of April 14. Fortunately, all were successfully extinguished in the initial stage, preventing escalation into large-scale wildfires.

Meanwhile, nationwide, the number of wildfires has nearly doubled compared to previous years, with large-scale wildfire cases continuing from March to April, including those in Uljin, Samcheok, Yanggu, and the Demilitarized Zone in Yeoncheon.

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