Flames Reach 4.5m High Prison Wall... Correctional Officers Battle Blaze Through the Night

Wildfire Rapidly Spreads to Cheongsong and Andong
Firefighting Efforts Using Hydrants and Extinguishers
Overnight Operations Continue to Extinguish Remaining Flames

In the Cheongsong area of northeastern Gyeongbuk, where the forest fire spread uncontrollably, a critical situation unfolded overnight as embers reached the prison walls. Fortunately, prison staff quickly responded to extinguish the fire and evacuated inmates to other locations, preventing any significant damage. On the 26th, Yonhap News, citing announcements from correctional authorities, reported that the fire spread to the mountains around Gyeongbuk Northern Region 2 Prison the previous evening, briefly igniting a cement wall about 4.5 meters high. However, prison officers directly extinguished the flames, resulting in no major damage.

The inmate population of Andong Prison in Gyeongbuk, the first, second, and third northern Gyeongbuk prisons in the Cheongsong area, and the Gyeongbuk Vocational Training Prison amounts to approximately 3,500. Among them, as the wildfire that started in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk showed signs of spreading, the prisons in this area have strengthened their preparations for several days by spraying water on the surrounding ground using fire hydrants. Provided by the Correctional Headquarters

The inmate population of Andong Prison in Gyeongbuk, along with Gyeongbuk Northern Region Prisons 1, 2, and 3 in Cheongsong, and the Gyeongbuk Vocational Training Prison, totals approximately 3,500. As the forest fire that began in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk, showed signs of spreading near the prisons, these facilities had reinforced precautions days in advance by spraying water from fire hydrants on the surrounding ground. However, driven by strong winds, the fire spread rapidly, reaching the mountains near Gyeongbuk Northern Region 2 Prison by the previous evening and briefly igniting a cement wall about 4.5 meters high. The flames spread into a restricted area enclosed by barbed wire, threatening the security walls surrounding the prison.

At that time, before the fire department arrived, prison officers used fire hydrants and extinguishers to fight the fire. Fortunately, the flames did not spread inside the walls. A correctional headquarters official stated, "The officers surrounded the main wall and continuously worked to prevent the fire from crossing into the prison," describing the tense situation.

Inmate Evacuation and Firefighting Conducted Simultaneously

Among them, the evacuation of approximately 500 inmates from the 2nd prison to other prisons was carried out simultaneously with the firefighting efforts. Due to the wind causing the wildfire to rapidly spread toward Cheongsong, the correctional authorities redirected the transport buses, initially intended for Andong, to Cheongsong first. Provided by the Correctional Headquarters

Meanwhile, the evacuation of about 500 inmates from the 2nd Prison to other facilities was carried out simultaneously with firefighting efforts. As the fire rapidly spread toward Cheongsong due to the wind, correctional authorities redirected the transport buses initially headed to Andong to Cheongsong instead. Inmates at the 2nd Prison, considered the most vulnerable to the fire due to its location, were first fitted with protective gear such as handcuffs and transferred to other institutions under the Daegu Regional Correctional Office.

The Northern Region 2 Prison is designated as a facility for violent offenders. It was reported that these offenders were housed separately in single cells at the receiving institutions. At Prisons 1 and 3, some patients and others were evacuated first. The remaining inmates boarded buses in preparation for transfer, but as the wind direction changed and the fire stabilized, the transfer was halted and inmates returned to their rooms.

At one prison, embers reportedly fell onto the inmate housing building overnight, prompting the fire department to extinguish the flames. Fire suppression efforts continued throughout the night. The Ministry of Justice stated, "There have been no human or material damages so far," and added, "We will closely monitor the situation and take necessary safety measures." Transport buses and personnel dispatched from correctional institutions nationwide remain on standby in nearby areas. An official said, "Staff put their utmost effort into extinguishing the fire," adding, "If the officers had withdrawn after moving the inmates, the 2nd Prison might have been completely destroyed."

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