Joint Memorial Altar Set Up for Four Victims Who Died While Battling Sancheong Wildfire

Changnyeong County Sports Center to Host Joint Memorial Altar from June 24 to 27

A joint memorial altar will be set up to honor the four people who died during wildfire suppression operations in Sancheong County, Gyeongnam Province, including wildfire suppression crew members and a county office official.

The Gyeongnam provincial government announced on the 23rd that a joint memorial altar will be established at the Changnyeong County Sports Center and will be open from the 24th to the 27th.

Mourners can pay their respects from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The temporary mortuary for the four deceased, currently at the Sancheong Funeral Hall, is scheduled to be moved to the Changnyeong Seoul Hospital Funeral Hall later today.

Chrysanthemum for the deceased. Photo by Se Ryeong Lee

The deceased include three wildfire suppression crew members born in 1961, 1962, and 1965, all affiliated with Changnyeong County, and a county official born in 1992 who was leading the team.

They were deployed on the 22nd to help extinguish a wildfire in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong County, but were found dead after being trapped by flames that rapidly spread due to a sudden change in wind direction.

Changnyeong County has decided to suspend all scheduled local events until the 27th to mourn the deceased.

Governor Park Wansu said, "I pray for the souls of those who lost their lives in the line of duty while fighting the wildfire, and I offer my condolences and comfort to the bereaved families who suddenly lost their loved ones." He added, "We will mobilize all available equipment and personnel to do our utmost to extinguish the wildfire."