Police Begin On-Site Investigation at Suspected Ignition Point of 'Gyeongbuk Wildfire'

Application of the Criminal Act, Forest Protection Act, and Cultural Heritage Protection Act

The police have launched an on-site investigation at the initial ignition point of the Gyeongbuk wildfire, which resulted in 30 fatalities.

On the 29th, the hillside cemetery in Gwaesan-ri, Uiseong-gun, estimated to be the initial ignition site of the wildfire in Gyeongbuk, has turned blackened by fire. Photo by Yonhap News

The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency announced on the 29th that seven officers from the Criminal Mobile Unit and the Forensic Investigation Division visited a hillside cemetery in Gwaesan-ri, Uiseong-gun, and conducted an investigation for about two hours.

The police took photographs of the cemetery area damaged by the wildfire and collected one discarded lighter, conducting preliminary investigations for a joint forensic examination. They also installed police lines near the cemetery. Additionally, they obtained statements regarding the fire incident from the village chief of Gwaesan 1-ri and others.

The police plan to conduct a joint forensic examination next week with the National Forensic Service and fire authorities.

On the 28th, the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency received fire-related materials from the Special Judicial Police (Special Investigation Unit) of Uiseong-gun and began an investigation. Since the wildfire caused casualties and damage to cultural properties, it is necessary to apply not only the Forest Protection Act but also the Criminal Act and the Cultural Heritage Protection Act.

The Gyeongbuk wildfire, which started on the 22nd, spread to areas including Andong City and was extinguished on the 28th, 149 hours after it began. Thirty people died due to the fire, and the affected area of the wildfire was estimated at 45,157 hectares, equivalent to 156 times the size of Yeouido in Seoul.

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