15 out of 22 smoldering fires detected, optimization through simulation and maximized drone utilization
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] It has been revealed that drones played a crucial role in the large-scale wildfire that occurred in Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk Province from the 15th to the 17th. Yeongdeok-gun analyzed that the thermal imaging detection drones operated independently achieved significant results in preventing wildfire recurrence, including monitoring residual flames.
The wildfire in Yeongdeok initially broke out around 4 a.m. on the 15th and the main fire was extinguished by 4:50 p.m. the same day. However, due to strong winds of 14 m/s and a continued dry weather advisory, the fire reignited around 2:20 a.m. on the 16th.
Afterwards, despite firefighting efforts by the Korea Forest Service and Yeongdeok-gun, the wildfire rapidly expanded driven by strong winds, leading to the issuance of a level 3 wildfire alert at 12:45 p.m. on the same day, creating a critical situation. With all available equipment and personnel deployed, the main fire was extinguished by 2 p.m. on the 17th, 36 hours after the initial outbreak.
At that time, Yeongdeok-gun was under overlapping strong wind and dry weather advisories, creating conditions where the wildfire could reignite at any moment. Including the weekend, Yeongdeok-gun mobilized a total of 373 pieces of equipment such as helicopters, drones, and firefighting vehicles, and approximately 5,600 personnel including public officials, operating a 24-hour system for extinguishing residual flames and monitoring flare-ups until the 21st.
Amid this, Yeongdeok-gun operated drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to promptly handle potential wildfire reoccurrences. This is regarded as a new turning point in local governments’ wildfire monitoring and surveillance.
Wildfires cover wide areas, making rapid personnel movement difficult, and helicopter operations are impossible at night, resulting in low efficiency for monitoring and surveillance compared to the deployment of personnel and equipment.
Therefore, Yeongdeok-gun utilized drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras at night to detect hidden embers and quickly deployed personnel for rapid response.
According to Yeongdeok-gun, on the early morning of the 18th, the drone detected a point with a temperature of 110°C in terrain difficult to patrol. Firefighting teams were promptly dispatched to the GPS coordinates, and upon inspection, although the surface appeared intact, embers were found alive inside the trees.
During the five-day intensive residual flame extinguishing and flare-up monitoring system from the 17th to the 21st, drones discovered 15 out of 22 hidden residual flames, accounting for 68%, demonstrating the outstanding performance of the drones.
Yeongdeok-gun plans to continuously operate drones for monitoring activities as dry weather persists even after easing the intensive system to a long-term surveillance response system.
The effectiveness of Yeongdeok-gun’s drone utilization is attributed to the fact that over 70% of Yeongdeok-gun is mountainous terrain, where effective drone altitude settings and visualization through filtering have been applied based on prior simulations and experience. They have established a system optimized for wildfire monitoring and surveillance, systematizing continuous drone operation.
Lee Hee-jin, Mayor of Yeongdeok-gun, stated, “We will integrate advanced technologies such as drones with existing wildfire extinguishing and monitoring systems to complete better plans and systems.”
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