Andong Yecheon Hadong Yeongdong… Evacuation of residents due to forest fires all over the country

An aerial firefighting team to build a fire line On the morning of the 21st, members of the Korea Forest Service’s aerial extinguishing team are constructing a fire line to prevent the spread of forest fires in the coniferous forest near Yeoryang-myeon, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do. Provided by Gangneung Forest Aviation Management Office-As the dry weather continued, wildfires broke out across the country on the 21st, a holiday. The fire department increased the response stage and issued an evacuation order for residents.

On the same day, the central forest fire prevention countermeasure headquarters of the Korea Forest Service issued a’severe’ stage for forest fire crisis warnings in 4 areas including Andong-si, Gyeongbuk and Yecheon-gun, Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam, and Yeongdong-gun, Chungbuk at 5:45 pm.

It was around 3:20 p.m. in the hills of Mangcheon-ri, Imdong-myeon, Andong-si. As the flames continued along the ridge, black smoke and flames soared all around the area, and the nearby village was covered with hazy smoke.

Helicopters and fire trucks were used to extinguish emergency fires, but the fire quickly spread around. As of 9 PM, the evolution rate is about 20%. The fire department has issued a’Step 2 of Response’ call for 5% of workers to extinguish forest fires in nearby areas such as Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, and Chungnam. About 450 residents of 350 households who are concerned about damage were evacuated to nearby areas. Andong City controlled National Route 34. At around 4:12 pm, a fire broke out at Mount Jeonje-ri, Gamcheon-myeon, Yecheon-gun. Three helicopters and 19 fire engines were put in, but the wind was strong and it was difficult to extinguish. As the flames spread to the area about 100m away from the private house, Yecheon-gun issued an evacuation order for residents and is putting all efforts into establishing a defensive line to prevent further spread of fire. A fire broke out at the ridge of Gujaebong (773m above sea level) 4 minutes in Akyang-myeon, Hadong-gun, at the foot of Mt. The fire, which started around 2:41 pm, burns 5ha of forest and continues to spread as of 8 pm. The fire is close to the Seomjin River, and there are natural recreational forests and active factories, so additional damage is a concern. The Forest Service and Gyeongnam Province put 14 helicopters and about 600 civil servants to extinguish the fire, but the helicopter withdrew in time for the sunset. An official of Ha Dong-gun said, “It is dry and the wind blows, so it will take time for complete evolution,” he said. “We will try to evolve again in time for the sunrise.” At 3:26 pm, a forest fire broke out in the hills of Okjeon-ri, Maegok-myeon, Yeongdong-gun, Chungbuk. It caught a big flame, but it is not easy to completely evolve as the small embers blow in the wind. Until 9 o’clock, the damage scale is about 0.3 ha. The fire department has found traces of incineration in nearby fields and is investigating the exact cause.

On the 20th, around 3:50 pm, a forest fire also broke out at the 3 minute ridge of Yasan, Gujeol-ri, Yeoryang-myeon, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do. The fire burned 12ha of forest for two days and extinguished around 9:40 am the next day, about 18 hours later. It spread toward the top of the mountain by riding a strong wind of 6.2m per second, and the terrain was steep and strong winds made it difficult to evolve. Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun gave an emergency order to the relevant ministries and ordered, “As the wildfire is rapidly spreading due to strong winds, we will make every effort to evacuate the residents so that no damage to humans will occur.”

Andong = Minjun Myung [email protected] / Hadong = Junghoon Kang / Youngdong = Reporter Kiwoo Jang