House Fire Sparks Spread by Wind into Wildfire... Overnight Containment After 9 Hours in Yangsan Wondong

A wildfire that started from a fire spark at a house in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, spread by the wind and was extinguished after 9 hours.

The Korea Forest Service Central Wildfire Control Headquarters announced on the 12th that the wildfire that occurred in Seon-ri, Wondong-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongnam, at around 10:51 PM on the 11th, was completely extinguished after 9 hours and 9 minutes.

A wildfire that broke out in Wondong-myeon, Yangsan, Gyeongnam is spreading with the wind. [Image source=Provided by reader]

According to the forestry authorities, about 190 personnel including 14 firefighting vehicles and wildfire suppression equipment, special wildfire suppression teams, forestry officials, and firefighters were deployed to carry out firefighting operations throughout the night, and three wildfire suppression helicopters were mobilized to complete the extinguishing by 8 AM on the 12th.

The site experienced an average wind speed of 1 m/s and a gust speed of 6 m/s. It is estimated that the fire spread from a spark originating at a house to a wildfire. The affected wildfire area was 3 hectares, with no reported casualties or facility damage.

The Korea Forest Service investigation team plans to investigate the exact cause of the wildfire and the damage area in accordance with Article 42 of the Forest Protection Act.

The forestry authorities stated, “We are focusing on monitoring to prevent the wildfire from reigniting,” and added, “Due to the recent dry weather, even a small spark can spread into a large wildfire, so we ask people to refrain from handling fire near forest areas.”