The Fire Is Out but Recovery Is 'Difficult'... Chungnam Requests "Special Disaster Zone Declaration"

The wildfire in Hongseong-gun, Chungnam Province was fully extinguished 53 hours after it started. However, the damage left behind by the wildfire remains a challenge that needs to be addressed. The problem is that the scale of the damage caused by the Hongseong wildfire is too large for local governments to handle alone. Chungnam Province has requested the government to designate the Hongseong wildfire-affected area as a special disaster zone.

A super-large wildfire suppression helicopter is conducting firefighting activities. Photo by Korea Forest Service

◆A rapidly spreading ‘large-scale wildfire’, with damages also ‘snowballing’=According to Chungnam Province and the Korea Forest Service, the Hongseong wildfire started around 11 a.m. on the 2nd in Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun, and was fully extinguished by 4 p.m. on the 4th.

The extinguishing process was not smooth. On the day the wildfire broke out, strong winds exceeding 15 meters per second blew at the site, causing the fire to spread into a large-scale wildfire within about two hours of its outbreak.

Firefighting personnel and equipment were deployed day and night at the site, but the persistent winds made extinguishing efforts difficult. Rain that began falling from the afternoon of the 4th provided a decisive help in controlling the fire.

However, scars still remain where the wildfire passed. The province and the Korea Forest Service have tentatively estimated the ‘wildfire impact area’ (the area expected to be damaged due to the wildfire) of the Hongseong wildfire to be 1,454 hectares. This is equivalent to about 2,000 soccer fields.

Additionally, a total of 71 facilities, including 34 houses and 35 warehouses, were destroyed, and about 300 village residents had to move to temporary shelters.

On the 4th, Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, reviewed the status of wildfire suppression, damage situation, and future response measures at the on-site integrated command center installed near Neungdong Village Hall in Jung-ri, Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun. At this meeting, Leader Kim stated, "I will actively ensure that Hongseong-gun can be declared a special disaster area." Provided by Chungnam Province

◆“Declare a special disaster zone”=Chungnam Province immediately began recovery efforts after the wildfire was extinguished. Providing shelter for the disaster victims who lost their homes is an urgent priority. To this end, the province has started preparing temporary shelters for the victims.

In particular, the province is requesting the government and political circles to declare Hongseong-gun a special disaster zone. Given the large scale of the damage caused by the Hongseong wildfire, it is judged that considerable time and a huge budget will be needed for recovery, and the province hopes the government will actively support these efforts. This also reflects the practical reality that recovery is difficult with local finances alone.

On the 4th, Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, responded to the province’s request by leaving a message saying, “We will actively take care of it.”

On that day, Kim visited the on-site integrated command center set up in Jung-ri, Seobu-myeon, Hongseong-gun, to review the wildfire damage situation and future response measures. At this meeting, the province and Hongseong-gun proposed to Kim the government’s declaration of a special disaster zone and support through special grants and contingency funds.

Kim said, “I confirmed that the wildfire damage in the Hongseong area is at a serious level,” and added, “Given the scale of the damage, I believe the government should declare Hongseong-gun a special disaster zone and provide active support.”

A special disaster zone is declared by the president when it is recognized that ‘special national-level measures are necessary’ to effectively manage and recover from damage caused by large-scale disasters such as fires.

When declared a special disaster zone, some costs such as housing damage, public facility restoration, and indirect expenses like health insurance premiums can be supported by national funds.