Taean County Holds Emergency Response Meeting as Wildfire Disaster Reaches Critical Level

On the 23rd, Governor Ko Gaero and Others Discuss Wildfire Prevention and Minimizing Damage
Emergency Duty for Staff Around Cheongmyeong and Hansik, Additional Wildfire Monitors to Be Recruited

A countermeasure meeting held on the 23rd at the Disaster Safety Situation Room in Taean-gun, Chungnam. /Taean-gun

Amid a series of wildfires occurring nationwide due to recent dry weather, Taean County in South Chungcheong Province held an emergency meeting over the weekend to discuss preventive measures.

Taean County announced that on the 23rd, a 'Wildfire Disaster Response Meeting' was held at the county disaster safety situation room, attended by County Governor Ko Gae-ro and about 10 other county officials, to address the severe wildfire disaster alert level.

According to the county, as of the 23rd of this year, there have been 179 wildfires nationwide, with recent large-scale wildfires occurring simultaneously and causing significant damage. Taean County itself has experienced three wildfires in March alone.

The county plans to thoroughly maintain an emergency contact system and standby response in accordance with the 'severe' wildfire disaster alert level, and will actively promote public awareness and caution among residents regarding wildfires.

Additionally, during the special countermeasure period around Cheongmyeong and Hansik, the county will implement emergency duty for staff, recruit 16 additional wildfire monitors, operate a drone surveillance team, and provide wildfire prevention education at village head meetings, among other thorough preventive measures.

Ko Gae-ro, the county governor, stated, "The best outcome is to prevent fires altogether, but we must be fully prepared in case a wildfire does occur." He added, "We will provide frequent guidance through village broadcasts and text messages, and focus our promotional efforts in hiking trails and wildfire-prone areas to minimize damage as much as possible."