Over 5,000 Personnel and 146 Helicopters Deployed for Military Wildfire Suppression

1,500 Personnel and 45 Helicopters Deployed on the 25th Alone

As of now, approximately 5,000 military personnel and around 140 helicopters have been deployed to suppress the wildfires mainly occurring in the Yeongnam region.

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 25th that since the outbreak of the wildfires, about 5,000 firefighting personnel and 146 military helicopters have been deployed for firefighting operations.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, about 1,500 personnel were deployed in a single day, along with 45 military helicopters. The deployed personnel and equipment have been engaged in wildfire suppression, mop-up operations, and medical support.

Yonhap News

In particular, regarding military helicopters, starting with the deployment of 2 helicopters to Sancheong, Gyeongnam on the 21st, a total of 29 helicopters were deployed across all wildfire-affected areas on the 22nd, followed by 35 helicopters each on the 23rd and 24th, and 45 helicopters on the 25th. The scale has been gradually increased. Additionally, among the 8 military helicopters deployed to Sancheong, Gyeongnam on this day, 4 were redirected in the afternoon to Uiseong, Gyeongbuk, providing flexible support according to the severity and pattern of the wildfires to effectively assist in wildfire suppression.

Furthermore, not only military helicopters but all helicopters involved in wildfire suppression have been supported through strengthened cooperation with related agencies to ensure smooth mission execution. As of this morning, a total of 184 refueling operations (95,000 gallons) have been provided to helicopters from related agencies such as the Korea Forest Service and the National Fire Agency, along with rest areas and conveniences for pilots to perform their duties.

The military explained that the health and safety of the soldiers deployed to the wildfire suppression sites are being given top priority. The soldiers are performing tasks such as mop-up operations and medical support rather than the main firefighting activities. Pre-mission health checks and risk assessments are conducted on deployed soldiers to ensure the safety and stability of mission execution.

The Ministry of National Defense stated, "While maintaining military readiness, we will actively deploy available military forces to national disaster sites to minimize wildfire damage

and do our utmost to protect the lives and property of the people."