Military Deploys Over 6,000 Personnel and 242 Helicopters for Wildfire Suppression

20,000 Blankets and Combat Rations,
Over 400,000 Liters of Aviation Fuel Provided

Our military has deployed approximately 6,000 personnel and 240 helicopters so far to combat wildfires spreading mainly in the Yeongnam region.

On the 26th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it had dispatched 990 wildfire suppression personnel and 48 military helicopters to wildfire-affected areas including Sancheong in Gyeongnam, Uiseong and Andong in Gyeongbuk, and Ulju in Ulsan. With this support, the military has deployed a total of about 6,000 suppression personnel and 242 military helicopters to date.

The military also provided over 20,000 relief supplies such as blankets and combat rations to regions including Yeongyang, Yeongdeok, and Cheongsong, and to facilitate smooth operations of wildfire suppression helicopters from other agencies such as the Korea Forest Service and the National Fire Agency, it has supplied a total of over 400,000 liters of aviation fuel so far.

The military is taking into account the health and safety of soldiers deployed on site. Wildfire suppression personnel undergo thorough safety assessments before deployment, and after deployment, they perform tasks such as extinguishing remaining embers and providing medical support rather than the main firefighting operations, according to the military. Furthermore, after completing their missions, the military checks the soldiers’ health status, including whether they have inhaled smoke, and ensures they receive adequate rest.

Meanwhile, on the morning of the same day, the Ministry of National Defense held a disaster countermeasure meeting related to the wildfires, chaired by Acting Minister of National Defense Kim Seon-ho, to review the military’s support for wildfire suppression. At the meeting, Acting Minister Kim repeatedly emphasized active personnel support for rescuing residents in isolated areas and conducting operations with consideration for the health of deployed troops as well as the fatigue of pilots and helicopters.

Following this, Acting Minister Kim explained the current status of the military’s wildfire suppression support to People Power Party lawmakers Han Ki-ho, Kang Seon-young, and Yoo Yong-won, who visited the Ministry of National Defense. The lawmakers urged the military to make every effort for rapid suppression and public safety while prioritizing the safety and health of the soldiers.

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