Busan Gijang County Prepares for Wildfire Spread... Proactively Protects Jangansa National Heritage and Responds to Wildfires

As a large wildfire that broke out in the Ulsan Ulju-gun area spread to the border regions of Gijang-gun, including Bulgwangsan, Gijang-gun in Busan is actively responding to the wildfire, including implementing evacuation procedures to protect national heritage within Jangansa Temple.

Gijang County has deployed an on-site command center at the parking lot of Jangansa Temple to actively prevent the spread of the wildfire. Photo by Gijang County

On the morning of the incident, the county, in consultation with the National Heritage Administration, decided to relocate the national heritage items within Jangansa Temple. With support in personnel and equipment from the Busan Museum and the Gaya Cultural Heritage Research Institute, the evacuation procedures are being carried out in earnest.

The national heritage items within Jangansa Temple and Cheokpanam Hermitage include 17 items such as the Stone Seated Sakyamuni Buddha Triad of Jangansa Temple (Treasure No. 1824), other treasures, and city-designated cultural assets. The relocation is being conducted to Busan Museum and Bokcheon Museum, and for artifacts such as the Daeungjeon Hall of Jangansa Temple that cannot be moved, protective measures such as fire-retardant coverings are being implemented.

To protect national heritage, the county is swiftly carrying out evacuation procedures, dispatching fire trucks and personnel to the site, trimming trees around the Daeungjeon Hall, and keeping sprinklers on standby inside Jangansa Temple to minimize wildfire damage.

After the wildfire broke out in Ulju-gun, the county set up an on-site command center at a nearby location (Jangan Rest Area) from the 23rd and has been operating the Gijang-gun Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, headed by the county mayor, since the 24th.

Under the leadership of Mayor Jeong Jongbok, situation assessment meetings are being held and staff are on emergency duty 24 hours a day. So far, about 200 people, including county office staff, firefighters, police, and local residents, have been mobilized to build wildfire defense lines and actively respond to the fire.

As of the 26th, with the wildfire spreading to the border area of Gijang-gun, the on-site command center has been moved forward to the Jangansa Temple parking lot, and field response activities are being strengthened. Temporary shelters for displaced residents have been secured, and preparations are in place for resident evacuation if necessary.

Mayor Jeong Jongbok stated, "We will do our utmost to contain the wildfire and prevent its spread," and added, "We will make every effort to protect not only national heritage but also the precious lives and property of Gijang-gun residents."

Gijang County is carrying out the relocation of national heritage within Jangan Temple in cooperation with related organizations. Photo by Gijang County

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