Creating a Fire-Safe Pohang... Pohang City Intensifies Spring 'Wildfire Prevention Activities'

Collection of Fallen Leaves Along Roads Adjacent to Forests to Prevent Wildfire Causes

Flexible Monitoring Activities in High-Risk Areas and Vulnerable Time Periods

Strict Crackdown on Illegal Burning in Forest-Adjacent Areas

On the 2nd, Pohang City conducted a campaign to prevent spring forest fires by removing flammable materials such as fallen leaves and garbage along roads adjacent to forests.

On the 2nd, Pohang City conducted a wildfire prevention activity and campaign along the Oeoji Dullegil in Ocheon-eup, with the participation of over 50 people including officials from the Greenery Division, Ocheon-eup office, and the specialized wildfire prevention and suppression team.

The forest fire prevention activity was carried out jointly by the Greenery Division and Ocheon-eup, with about 50 participants including public officials and specialized forest fire prevention and suppression teams along approximately a 2 km section of the road around Oeoji Trail in Ocheon-eup.

The collected fallen leaves can be recycled as compost and will be provided free of charge to citizens who need them. Removing fallen leaves near forest areas also helps to preemptively block causes of forest fires.

The city plans to strengthen patrols by deploying at least one-sixth of department staff to vulnerable forest fire areas during the ‘Alert’ stage and at least one-quarter during the ‘Severe’ stage, according to the national crisis alert issuance criteria for forest fire disasters stipulated in the Forest Protection Act, in preparation for large-scale spring forest fires.

Additionally, as the risk of forest fires increases around sunset, since the 20th of last month, the working hours of forest fire watchers have been adjusted by one hour to extend monitoring activities until 7 p.m., allowing flexible operation of surveillance in high-risk areas and vulnerable time periods.

Analysis of forest fire causes in Pohang City over the past 10 years shows that burning of agricultural by-products and garbage, as well as cigarette-related fires, account for about 23% of all forest fires and are the main causes of spring forest fires every year.

Accordingly, the city is conducting focused crackdowns on illegal burning and smoking in forests and adjacent areas, and will strictly enforce a zero-tolerance policy by imposing fines of up to 500,000 KRW according to the Forest Protection Act when violations are detected.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok urged, “Strong winds and dry weather in spring mean that a moment of carelessness can lead to a large forest fire, so we ask all citizens to make efforts together,” and added, “Please refrain from carrying flammable materials such as lighters when entering the mountains, and be cautious to prevent forest fires caused by burning agricultural by-products or careless handling of wood boilers.”

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