Gapyeong-gun Operates Wildfire Prevention Headquarters... Full Effort to Prevent Autumn Wildfires

From the 1st of Next Month, Wildfire Caution Period Begins... Total Mobilization of 98 Patrol Team Members and Helicopters

Gapyeong-gun will establish a wildfire prevention task force from November 1 to December 15, with the county office's Forestry Department and six eup/myeon administrative welfare centers cooperating to make every effort to prevent wildfires.

Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province (Governor Seo Tae-won) plans to establish a wildfire prevention headquarters from November 1 to December 15 and will make every effort to prevent wildfires through cooperation between the county office's Forestry Division and six eup/myeon administrative welfare centers.

According to Gapyeong-gun on the 29th, in preparation for the "Autumn Wildfire Prevention Period," the county has selected 56 specialized wildfire prevention and suppression personnel and 42 wildfire watchers, totaling 98 people, to conduct frequent patrols of hiking trails and forest-adjacent areas vulnerable to wildfires. Accordingly, one wildfire suppression helicopter, eight wildfire command and suppression vehicles, backpack pumps, fire rakes, and other equipment have been thoroughly maintained to establish a response system.

According to Gapyeong-gun, 17 wildfires occurred over the past three years, resulting in the loss of 6.74 hectares of forest. The main causes of wildfires were identified as garbage burning, careless use of charcoal fires, and stoves. Wildfires caused by these factors accounted for 34% of the total, highlighting the need for residents' caution and cooperation.

With the complete ban on burning activities within forest-adjacent areas (within 100 meters of forests), the county will collaborate with eup/myeon offices and the Agricultural Technology Center to promote the shredding of agricultural byproducts such as sesame stalks and chili pepper stems generated after harvest starting in November. Residents wishing to have their agricultural byproducts shredded can apply through the county office's Forestry Division, the Agricultural Technology Center, or eup/myeon offices.

Park Jeong-seon, head of the Forestry Division, stated, "About 82% of Gapyeong-gun's total area is covered by forests, and farmland and houses are located adjacent to forests, increasing the risk of wildfires. The county will make every effort to prevent wildfires through support for agricultural byproduct shredding, wildfire prevention publicity and surveillance activities, and imposing fines for illegal burning."