Gangneung Wildfire Spreads to Homes, Fire Response Raised to Level 3

Fire Mobilization Order No. 2 Issued... Central Control Unit Activated
235 Firefighters Deployed, Emergency for Gangneung Wildfire
Ministry of the Interior and Safety: "Maximize Available Resources to Minimize Damage"

The National Fire Agency issued the highest response level, Fire Response Level 3, and Nationwide Fire Mobilization Order No. 2 for the wildfire that occurred in Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province on the 11th. This is the first time this year that Fire Response Level 3 has been issued due to a wildfire.

According to fire authorities, the wildfire started around 8:30 a.m. in Nangok-dong, Gangneung-si, and the flames are currently spreading to residential areas due to strong winds. The National Fire Agency issued Response Level 2 at 9:18 a.m. and escalated it to Response Level 3 at 9:43 a.m. Fire Response Level 1 involves resources from one city/county/district, Level 2 involves resources from 2 to 4 city/county/districts, and Level 3 involves mobilization of resources from five or more city/county/districts.

A wildfire broke out around 8:30 AM on the 11th in the Nanggok-dong 4 area of Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, with flames rising high. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Of about 10 houses near the fire origin, the flames have currently spread to 4 to 5 houses. Gangneung City sent disaster safety messages to residents of seven neighborhoods including Gyeongpo-dong 10th, 11th, and 13th districts, instructing them to evacuate to the Gyeongpo-dong Community Center and Ice Arena.

The National Fire Agency also issued Nationwide Fire Mobilization Order No. 2. Fire mobilization orders are issued to support insufficient firefighting forces from other regions during large-scale fires, accidents, or disasters. The scale of fire force mobilization increases in stages: No. 1 (5% of on-duty firefighting force), No. 2 (10%), and No. 3 (20%). No. 1 involves fewer than 250 personnel, No. 2 involves between 250 and 499 personnel, and No. 3 involves 500 or more personnel. In terms of mobilized equipment, No. 1 involves fewer than 100 fire trucks, No. 2 involves between 100 and 199 fire trucks, and No. 3 involves 200 or more fire trucks. The mobilization area for No. 1 is fewer than 8 provinces, No. 2 covers 8 to 13 provinces, and No. 3 covers 14 or more provinces.

Earlier, the National Fire Agency issued Nationwide Fire Mobilization Order No. 1 at 9:29 a.m., then escalated it to No. 2 at 9:42 a.m. Currently, 235 firefighting personnel have been deployed, and the National Fire Agency’s Central Emergency Rescue Control Team is also operating. The Director of Equipment and Technology was dispatched to the site as the Situation Manager, and deployment of the Ulsan Large Capacity Water Cannon System was ordered. Nam Hwa-young, Acting Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, also departed for the Gangneung wildfire site.

On the morning of the 11th, a fire broke out on a hillside in Nangok-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province, burning a house. Currently, both a strong wind warning and a dry weather warning are in effect in Gangneung.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The fire is presumed to have spread to a wildfire after a pine tree broke and touched power lines, igniting sparks. On this day, a dry weather warning and strong wind warning were issued across the Yeongdong region, including Gangneung.

Kim Seong-ho, Director of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, instructed, "The Korea Forest Service, National Fire Agency, and local governments should quickly deploy all available resources to minimize damage." He also urged, "Establish thorough firebreaks to prevent damage to residential areas and ensure residents in areas at risk of spread evacuate in advance."

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