Enhancement of Wildfire Monitoring System and Establishment of Nighttime Wildfire Preparedness
Securing Large Wildfire Response Capability... Infrastructure and Cooperation System Development
As we go through life, we encounter numerous difficulties and unexpected challenges.
When faced with such crises, some people give up and accept failure, some stand firm and confront the challenge, and others turn the crisis into an opportunity for further development.
These situations do not only happen to individuals.
The large-scale wildfire that occurred in Uljin-gun in 2022 caused significant damage and scars, and efforts to restore the area are ongoing.
Since the wildfire, the county has greatly reinforced wildfire monitoring personnel and continuously advanced the wildfire monitoring system to strengthen wildfire prevention measures and ensure that such a disaster never happens again.
▲ Full-scale response during the spring wildfire season
The best response to wildfires is prevention. Accordingly, Uljin-gun is putting all its efforts into prevention activities.
In particular, from the 1st to the 30th of last month, the ‘Special Wildfire Countermeasure Period’ was announced (Korea Forest Service Announcement No. 2024-139), and during the spring wildfire caution period, all administrative resources have been mobilized to respond to wildfire prevention.
The Wildfire Prevention Headquarters operates 24 hours a day, enhancing the wildfire monitoring system and prevention activities, and has established a preparedness system for nighttime wildfire response.
Above all, to enable rapid early detection of wildfires, the wildfire ICT platform is utilized (6 locations - 24 channels), and an unmanned monitoring drone station operates in the Geumgangsong-myeon Sogwang-ri area. By analyzing multi-channel CCTV footage, which is difficult to monitor with personnel alone, using AI, the wildfire monitoring system has been advanced.
Additionally, to prevent illegal burning, which is a major cause of wildfires in spring, continuous guidance and inspections are conducted using wildfire monitors and other personnel. Furthermore, through ongoing management of vulnerable areas such as households using wood boilers and isolated villages, on-site wildfire prevention activities have been strengthened.
Moreover, as sunset time gets later, the operating hours of the drone station for nighttime wildfire response have been adjusted (from 12 PM to 8 PM), and the wildfire specialized prevention and suppression team has been deployed at night (from 1 PM to 9 PM), establishing a readiness posture for rapid nighttime wildfire response.
In the event of a wildfire, five helicopters (2 large, 2 medium, 1 small) are stationed within the jurisdiction to maintain a constant dispatch readiness for initial suppression.
▲ Strengthening the large-scale wildfire response system
Through the experience of the recent wildfire, Uljin-gun realized the importance of an organic cooperative system among related agencies to overcome large-scale wildfires.
Accordingly, on the 5th, Uljin National Forest Management Office, Uljin Forest Aviation Management Office, Uljin Fire Station, Uljin Police Station, Daegu Regional Meteorological Administration, Army Unit 5312, Korea Electric Power Corporation Uljin Branch, and Uljin-gun Forestry Cooperative, among eight agencies, held a meeting to prepare for large-scale wildfires in spring and are fully committed to strengthening cooperation with related agencies for wildfire response.
Also, on March 28, a business agreement was signed with the Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters and Busan Regional Land Management Office to establish the 119 Wildfire Special Response Unit.
Once the 119 Wildfire Special Response Unit building is completed, one unit with six teams and 62 personnel, along with the country’s largest freshwater capacity super-large helicopter with 11,356 liters, will be deployed to fight wildfires in Gyeongbuk Province and the East Coast area.
In addition, the ‘National East Coast Wildfire Prevention Center,’ which will serve as the hub for large-scale wildfire suppression on the East Coast of Gyeongbuk, is scheduled to be newly established in Uljin, further strengthening the infrastructure to respond to large-scale wildfires.
County Governor Son Byung-bok said, “Although we suffered great damage from the large wildfire, we learned the lesson that prevention is crucial.” He added, “We must not forget the pain of that day and must all strive to maintain vigilance against wildfires.” He also stated, “Uljin-gun, which was a record wildfire damage area, will overcome the damage record and become a model case for wildfire prevention. We will continue to put forth our utmost effort.”
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