Governor Kim Taeheum: "Helicopters Must Be Deployed Immediately for Initial Wildfire Suppression"

At the Executive Meeting, Orders for "All-Out Efforts in Wildfire Monitoring and Suppression"

Chungnam Governor Kim Taehum presiding over a nighttime wildfire operation strategy meeting. (Provided by Chungnam Province)

Kim Taeheum, Governor of Chungnam, ordered an all-out response to wildfire monitoring in the province on the 24th.

During an executive meeting held at the provincial government office that day, Governor Kim stated, "Wildfires are occurring one after another throughout the province, and with the dry spring weather combined with strong winds, the risk of large-scale wildfires is increasing." He added, "In the event of a wildfire, deploy helicopters to make every effort for early suppression, and I ask that cities and counties mobilize all available personnel and resources to do their utmost to prevent the spread."

Currently, the province is operating 216 wildfire prevention headquarters within its jurisdiction to prevent and respond to wildfires.

In addition, 1,605 personnel including wildfire monitors, 209 fire suppression vehicles, 83 power pumps, and 127 surveillance cameras are being deployed.

The province plans to deploy wildfire prevention personnel to shred agricultural by-products left in fields and to intensively crack down on the illegal burning of agricultural by-products.

In particular, to ensure early detection and initial suppression of wildfires, five firefighting helicopters will be pre-positioned in five cities and counties including Hongseong, and a cooperative system will be operated with the Korea Forest Service and military units to enable rapid deployment in the event of a wildfire.