Jinju City Mobilizes All Efforts for Wildfire Prevention as Wildfire Disaster Level Reaches Critical

Refrain from Entering Mountains and Hiking for Wildfire Prevention
Strengthening Efforts to Eradicate Burning of Agricultural By-products

Jinju City, Gyeongnam Province, announced that it is making every effort to prevent wildfires as the wildfire that broke out in Sicheon-myeon, Sancheong-gun on the 21st has spread to Okjong-myeon, Hadong-gun, and the risk of wildfires is increasing due to rapidly changing weather conditions such as strong winds.

With the wildfire disaster risk level remaining at 'Severe,' the city quickly convened a situation assessment meeting on the 22nd and activated the Jinju City Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (headed by Cho Kyu-il), placing one-fourth of all employees on emergency duty until the crisis alert is lifted. Each department has been assigned specific administrative guidance zones, and an average of 360 staff members per day are organized into special wildfire prevention guidance teams.

At least once a day, wildfire monitoring activities are conducted, along with continuous efforts such as ▲crackdowns on burning of agricultural by-products and waste, and guidance against careless use of wood boilers ▲prohibiting entry with flammable materials and promoting the reduction of hiking ▲prohibiting incense burning and burning around graves during ancestral rites, and other wildfire prevention publicity activities. The city is also actively promoting wildfire prevention through various channels such as village broadcasts and social media.

A meeting is being held to assess the wildfire prevention situation in Jinju City due to the severe wildfire disaster stage.

Additionally, Jinju City held emergency meetings with local leaders in towns and villages adjacent to mountains to eradicate illegal burning of agricultural by-products and to promote wildfire prevention. The city is also strengthening publicity and patrol activities using the voluntary disaster prevention corps and the women's civil defense mobile unit.

Mayor Cho Kyu-il stated, "If a wildfire occurs due to dry air and strong winds, there is a high risk that it could escalate into a large-scale wildfire. Therefore, we will mobilize all available administrative resources for wildfire prevention," and urged, "We ask citizens to refrain from entering the mountains and hiking during this period, and to be especially careful not to burn waste or agricultural by-products near mountain areas."

Jinju City issued evacuation orders for seven villages in Sugok-myeon, areas adjacent to Sancheong-gun and Hadong-gun where wildfire spread was feared. On the night of the 22nd, 126 residents were evacuated to shelters such as Jinseo Middle School. Although all residents have now returned home, immediate evacuation orders will be given if an emergency situation arises.

In addition, five wildfire suppression vehicles and 14 firefighters have been deployed for patrols in Sugok-myeon, and fire trucks have been pre-positioned in areas at risk of wildfire spread, such as Dongwol Village in Sugok-myeon. A total of 175 wildfire prevention personnel have been mobilized to conduct intensive patrols and vehicle broadcasts during vulnerable hours, and a rapid response team of 38 people is conducting patrols until 9 p.m. to prepare for nighttime wildfires, thereby strengthening the alert posture and making every effort to prevent wildfires.

Meanwhile, since November last year, the city has been operating the Wildfire Prevention Countermeasures Headquarters and 26 town and village situation rooms, deploying 59 professional wildfire prevention and suppression personnel and 116 wildfire monitors in the field. The city has also established a wildfire prevention and response system utilizing 18 wildfire suppression vehicles, 3 wildfire monitoring cameras, and 1 leased helicopter, and is actively implementing wildfire prevention measures.