Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam focuses on preventing wildfires and mountain accidents during the spring and autumn seasons, when outdoor activities increase.
According to the Changwon Fire Headquarters on the 28th, a total of three wildfires occurred in Changwon last year, with the main causes being unknown for two cases and negligence for one case.
In response, the Fire Headquarters will deploy a specialized wildfire firefighting vehicle this year to effectively respond to wildfires. This vehicle can drive on unpaved rough terrain, enabling rapid response in case of wildfires, and it can also operate in water up to 1.2 meters deep, making it excellent for rescue operations and drainage activities in flood-affected areas.
The Fire Headquarters plans to deploy the specialized wildfire firefighting vehicle in the first half of this year and utilize it appropriately where needed.
Along with wildfire prevention, preventive activities will also be promoted due to the frequent occurrence of mountain accidents involving hikers and others.
According to the Changwon Fire Headquarters, there were a total of 126 mountain accidents last year, with 34 cases of falls being the most common, followed by 32 cases of isolation or getting lost, and 15 cases of other illnesses.
As mountain accidents frequently occur due to increased outdoor activities, the Fire Headquarters will add one more firefighting drone to strengthen search operations. Currently, the Fire Headquarters owns two firefighting drones and will deploy one more this year to lead enhanced search efforts.
Additionally, a working-level consultative body will be formed to establish a collaborative response system with related organizations. Due to the wide search areas characteristic of mountain accidents, rescue time will be shortened by confirming locations through apps and SNS and sharing them with rescue personnel during operations.
Furthermore, during the spring and autumn seasons when outdoor activities increase, areas expected to be at risk for mountain accidents will be selected, and firefighters and volunteer firefighters will be deployed to operate mountain safety guardians.
Wildfires and mountain accidents require much more time and manpower than fires or rescue situations occurring in other locations.
Therefore, the Fire Headquarters plans to focus on multifaceted prevention efforts this year to ensure that wildfires and mountain accidents do not occur.
Kim Yong-jin, head of the Fire Headquarters, said, “When a wildfire occurs, damage to lives and property inevitably becomes uncontrollable,” adding, “We will thoroughly prepare our response readiness and do our best to establish a safe Changwon City without safety accidents.”
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