Gyeongbuk Province Secures Budget for Introducing Extra-Large Helicopter for Wildfire Suppression ... 25 Billion Won Confirmed from Disaster Safety Special Grant

Super large firefighting helicopter Chinook.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwi-yeol] Gyeongbuk Province has secured 25 billion KRW in special disaster safety grants to strengthen its wildfire response capabilities and to reinforce the introduction of a super-large helicopter for wildfire suppression that can overwhelm the fire intensity in its early stages.

According to data from the National Statistical Office, 801 wildfires have occurred in Gyeongbuk over the past 10 years.

In particular, a wildfire that broke out in Uljin last March caused the largest damage ever recorded, with a damaged area of 14,140 hectares, damage costs of 171.7 billion KRW, and restoration expenses of 300.9 billion KRW.

Gyeongbuk has a forest area of 1.33 million hectares, accounting for 21.2% of the national total of 6.29 million hectares, and 43% of its forests are coniferous.

Additionally, a layer of fallen leaves about 10cm to 20cm thick accumulates on the ground, so when a wildfire occurs, it can escalate into a disaster-level large wildfire, raising the need for the introduction of a super-large helicopter for early wildfire suppression.

Accordingly, the province, together with local lawmakers, moved swiftly to introduce a super-large helicopter with a water capacity of over 10,000 liters that can overwhelm the fire intensity in the early stages of a wildfire, resulting in securing 25 billion KRW in special disaster safety grants.

With the introduction of the super-large helicopter for wildfire suppression, firefighting will be possible even under adverse conditions such as strong winds and nighttime, and it will be possible to effectively respond to wildfires in the rugged terrain of northern Gyeongbuk.

It is also expected that protection of major national infrastructure such as local nuclear power facilities and cultural assets, which are national properties, will be further strengthened.

Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “To protect the lives and property of residents from the large wildfires that have occurred consecutively in the region recently, we will steadily promote the establishment of a special wildfire response team and the introduction of a super-large helicopter for wildfire suppression.”

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