Hong Jun-pyo on Daegu Wildfire Suppression: "Because We Trained in Advance"

571 Personnel Quickly Deployed to Battle Wildfire Overnight
"Ordered a Thorough Investigation into the Cause"

On the night of the 26th, a wildfire broke out in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, and was completely extinguished in about 12 hours. Mayor Hong Jun-pyo of Daegu stated that this was "because wildfire suppression training had been conducted in advance."

On the 27th, Mayor Hong posted on Facebook, "A wildfire of unknown cause broke out at the 80% elevation of Hambaksan Mountain in Dalseong-gun at 8 PM last night (26th)." He added, "Under the command of Choi Jae-hoon, the head of Dalseong-gun, 571 personnel including Dalseong-gun officials, Daegu City fire brigades, and Daegu City wildfire task forces were quickly deployed and worked overnight to suppress the wildfire."

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu. Provided by Daegu City

He continued, "We succeeded in initial suppression and extinguished about 90% of the fire," adding, "From 6:20 AM today (27th), three local government helicopters and one Korea Forest Service helicopter that had been on standby overnight were dispatched, and we received reports that the suppression would soon be completed."

Mayor Hong emphasized that the key to the early success in wildfire suppression was "the thorough preparation of frontline workers." He stated, "It was thanks to Dalseong-gun conducting wildfire suppression training in advance, and the prompt deployment of related officials, especially the Daegu City wildfire task force members, who carried out initial suppression and prevented the fire from spreading."

He also said, "It is unusual for a wildfire to break out at the 80% elevation at night, in a place that is not even a hiking trail," and added, "I have instructed a thorough investigation into the cause." He further expressed, "I thank all the related officials. You worked hard throughout the night," and urged, "Please complete the full extinguishment quickly and remove all remaining embers."

Meanwhile, according to the forestry authorities and Daegu Fire Headquarters, an unknown cause fire broke out near the summit of Hambaksan Mountain in Myeonggok-ri, Hwawon-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu, at around 7:29 PM the previous day. The forestry authorities issued a wildfire response level 1 alert at 8:32 PM and deployed about 110 firefighting personnel and 35 firefighting vehicles to carry out suppression efforts. The fire was fully extinguished around 8 AM that day.