Bongdang-gun Without Wildfires, Holds Launch Ceremony to Establish Response System

On the 15th, Busan's Gijang-gun held a launch ceremony at Cheolma Sports Park to establish a wildfire disaster response system and officially began efforts to realize a "Wildfire-Safe Gijang."

The ceremony was attended by Jeong Jong-bok, the head of Gijang-gun, related department heads, 24 wildfire prevention and suppression specialists, and 50 wildfire monitors. The event included a wildfire monitor oath, reading of a resolution for a wildfire-free Gijang, and chanting of slogans, strengthening their commitment to wildfire prevention.

The county has designated the period from November 1 this year to May 15 next year as the wildfire caution period. The main office and five eup/myeon operate the "Wildfire Prevention Countermeasures Headquarters" to actively promote wildfire prevention tasks.

The headquarters has established a comprehensive wildfire prevention plan to prepare for the high-risk winter and spring dry seasons and focuses on activities to preemptively block wildfire causes.

Participants of the Gijang-gun Wildfire Disaster Response Posture Establishment Launch Ceremony are taking a group commemorative photo.

They have designated and manage 4,979 hectares, accounting for 33% of the county's total forest area, as restricted entry zones and will close 13 hiking trails totaling 46 km, which is 57% of the local trails.

Additionally, 50 wildfire monitors and 24 wildfire prevention and suppression specialists will be intensively deployed to vulnerable wildfire areas to conduct mobile crackdowns, continuously monitor illegal burning activities, control access to restricted entry zones, and strengthen wildfire prevention activities such as fire-setting crackdowns.

In particular, they plan to strictly crack down on burning activities in forest-adjacent areas, the leading cause of wildfires in the jurisdiction. They will frequently inspect wildfire-prone areas near forests, intensively patrol, and strengthen enforcement and penalties against those conducting illegal burning to eradicate unlawful burning.

Jeong Jong-bok, the county head, stated, "We will make every effort to proactively respond to wildfire prevention and preserve Gijang's pristine forests," and added, "We ask residents to remain vigilant to prevent wildfires caused by negligence, refrain from burning activities, and actively cooperate to minimize wildfire damage."