Korea Forest Service Conducts Joint Training with Related Agencies for Wildfire Prevention and Response along the East Coast

On the 24th, the Korea Forest Service conducted the '2022 Joint Wildfire Suppression and Safe Korea Pilot Training' in Goseong, Gangwon Province, to establish a wildfire response system among related organizations. Nam Seong-hyun, the Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service, is inspecting the operation system of wildfire suppression equipment, including wildfire surveillance drones. Photo by Korea Forest Service

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Forest Service conducted a practical training exercise to establish a large-scale wildfire response system along the East Coast.

On the 25th, the Korea Forest Service announced that it had jointly conducted the "2022 Joint Wildfire Suppression and Safe Korea Pilot Training" with Gangwon Province and Goseong County in the Goseong area of Gangwon Province the previous day.

The training involved over 370 personnel from 12 related organizations, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of National Defense. It simulated a large-scale wildfire scenario, using the wildfire situation control system to respond in real-time from wildfire reporting to rapid deployment of suppression resources and restoration of mobile communications.

The exercise mobilized a total of 15 helicopters, 25 vehicles including wildfire suppression trucks, 3 aerial suppression teams, 5 special wildfire disaster suppression teams, 5 specialized wildfire prevention and suppression teams, and 1 special wildfire disaster suppression team from the Army's 8th Corps, along with their equipment and personnel.

Additionally, through the wildfire situation control system, the Korea Forest Service Central Wildfire Prevention Headquarters and the Gangwon Province Wildfire Field Integrated Command Headquarters conducted situation assessment and on-site command training to respond to the real-time changing wildfire conditions.

Most importantly, the training addressed issues identified during the two massive wildfires that occurred earlier this year, improving the wildfire suppression process and demonstrating new wildfire suppression technologies such as the latest suppression equipment and high-performance wildfire suppression vehicles.

The newly introduced wildfire suppression technologies in the training included wildfire reporting via wildfire monitoring drones, operation of the wildfire field integrated command headquarters, operation of high-performance wildfire suppression equipment, aerial command, installation and operation of mobile water bags, and restoration of mobile communications.

Taking this training as an opportunity, the Korea Forest Service plans to expand wildfire prevention infrastructure such as wildfire suppression forest roads, fire-resistant forest belts, and multipurpose check dams along the East Coast, and increase the number of suppression equipment suitable for large-scale wildfires, including high-performance wildfire suppression vehicles and large helicopters.

Meanwhile, the East Coast region has a high risk of wildfire occurrence due to the dry Yanggan wind (襄杆之風) passing through the Baekdudaegan mountain range, dense pine forests, and residential areas adjacent to forests.

According to forest statistics, out of 38 large wildfires that have occurred in Gangwon Province since 1986, 30 cases (79%) were reported in the East Coast region.

In particular, the Korea Forest Service explains that proactive wildfire response is crucial because this area houses key national facilities such as nuclear power plants, gas storage facilities, and large-scale transmission lines.

Nam Sung-hyun, head of the Korea Forest Service, said, "The training was conducted to establish an organic wildfire response system among related wildfire suppression agencies and local governments. Since wildfires mainly occur due to minor carelessness and can instantly turn forests nurtured for decades into ashes, threatening our lives and property, we urge the public to actively participate in wildfire prevention activities."

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