Wildfire in Suncheon, Jeonnam Extinguished After 21 Hours... Forest Damage Area 47ha

91 Residents Evacuated, Returned Home After Fire Suppression

A wildfire that broke out in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do on the afternoon of the 3rd was completely extinguished after 21 hours.

According to Suncheon City on the 4th, the forestry authorities mobilized 6 helicopters, 9 firefighting vehicles, and 140 personnel after sunrise to complete the mop-up operations around 11:57 a.m.

The wildfire temporarily damaged two nearby vinyl greenhouses and burned approximately 47 hectares of forestland. There were no casualties.

A total of 91 residents (77 households) from three villages in two nearby myeon (townships) evacuated to the myeon office and village halls, returning home after the main fire was extinguished.

Firefighters extinguishing a fire at the site of a blaze in Suncheon, Jeonnam, three days ago
Photo by Korea Forest Service

The wildfire started around 2:13 p.m. the previous day near San 15, Mangyong-ri, Woldeung-myeon, Suncheon City.

The main fire was contained by 7:50 p.m. on the same day, just five and a half hours later, but mop-up operations for embers spreading across the mountain continued into the second day.

The wildfire is presumed to have spread from burning agricultural byproducts in a nearby orchard. The fire rapidly expanded due to strong winds.

The forestry authorities, who had issued a 'Level 2 Wildfire Alert' the previous day, lifted it but established firebreaks around residential areas to prevent the spread of embers.

The scene of the wildfire in Suncheon, Jeonnam, three days ago
[Photo by Korea Forest Service]

Suncheon has been under a dry weather advisory for nine consecutive days since the 24th of last month.

Suncheon City plans to investigate the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage through a joint inspection with the Korea Forest Service, Jeollanam-do Province, and the Korea Forest Fire Prevention Technology Association.