Uljin Wildfire... Level 3 Alert Issued and Nighttime Response Activated "Containment Impossible Overnight"

8:30 PM Wildfire Level 3 and National Wildfire Crisis Alert Severe Level Issued

On the 28th, a fire broke out in a mountain area in Geunnam-myeon, Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk, spreading to the surrounding area. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The Korea Forest Service entered a nighttime wildfire response system on the 28th, anticipating that the wildfire that broke out in Geunnam-myeon, Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk during the day would be impossible to extinguish overnight. As of 8:30 PM that day, a Level 3 wildfire alert and the national wildfire crisis alert at the 'Severe' level were issued.

The Korea Forest Service and the Fire Department deployed about 800 firefighters to the wildfire site to establish firebreaks and focus on preventing the spread of the fire overnight. However, around 7:30 PM, as the sun set, 30 firefighting helicopters deployed on site were withdrawn.

The Korea Forest Service plans to redeploy helicopters for firefighting operations once the sun rises on the 29th.

The fire broke out around 12:06 PM that day. In the early stages of the fire, a southwest wind blowing at an average speed of about 3 m/s was present at the site, but sudden strong gusts reaching up to about 20 m/s and heavy smoke made firefighting efforts difficult.

The fire authorities have confirmed that a nearby car repair shop, a temple, a design office, and containers were burned. However, no casualties have been reported so far. Major national facilities such as the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant are located more than 10 km away from the site, and there are no nationally important cultural properties around the area.

An eyewitness reported, "There was welding work near the ignition point." The Korea Forest Service and the police plan to investigate the exact damage area and the cause of the fire once the firefighting operations are completed.

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