A forest fire response team member from Changnyeong County, Gyeongnam, died while fighting a large wildfire in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong County, resulting in the tragic loss of two lives.
According to Changnyeong County and Yonhap News on the 22nd, two forest fire response team members from Changnyeong County were deployed to the fire site and died while engaging in firefighting operations.
Their ages, personal information, and the circumstances of their deaths have not yet been identified.
The police and fire authorities plan to recover the bodies from the scene and investigate the cause of death.
The fire broke out in a mountain area in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong County, Gyeongnam, at around 3:26 p.m. the previous day.
The forestry authorities deployed personnel and equipment to contain the fire, but as the wildfire spread, they declared a "Level 3 Wildfire Alert" at 6:40 p.m. and are continuing firefighting efforts.
The wildfire-affected area covers 275 hectares, and of the total 16 km fire line, 6.1 km of active fire remains.
Currently, 213 residents from seven villages, including Jeomdong and Gudong in Sicheon-myeon, have evacuated to the Korea Seonbi Culture Research Institute.
At the scene, more than 1,300 personnel?including special and professional firefighting teams, public officials, firefighters, police officers, and soldiers?along with over 120 pieces of equipment, have been deployed.
Starting from sunrise at 6:30 a.m. on this day, 43 helicopters owned or leased by the Korea Forest Service, National Fire Agency, Gyeongnam Province, and Ministry of National Defense were sequentially deployed.
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