Administrative Orders: Complete Ban on Mountain Entry and Outdoor Burning of Rice Paddies
Preemptive Protection of Cultural Heritage and Traditional Temples, Strengthened Safety Management at Construction Sites Near Forests
As the wildfire in Uiseong rapidly spreads and damages are occurring throughout the northeastern region of North Gyeongsang Province, the city of Pohang is maintaining a 24-hour emergency response system and implementing strong administrative measures, including a complete ban on mountain entry.
Since the 26th, Pohang has been holding two wildfire response meetings daily, in the morning and afternoon, until the wildfire crisis alert is downgraded from "serious" to "caution."
Pohang City held a wildfire response meeting on the morning of the 27th, chaired by Mayor Kangdeok Lee. Photo by Pohang City
At the wildfire response meeting held on the morning of the 27th, presided over by Mayor Lee Kangdeok of Pohang, participants shared the current status of wildfire prevention efforts and discussed improvements to on-site responses, as well as response plans for nighttime and emergency situations.
During the meeting, Mayor Lee noted that although rain was forecast for the afternoon, the amount would likely be insufficient to extinguish the nearby wildfires. He urged everyone to remain vigilant and concentrate all available resources until all fires are fully contained.
In particular, the meeting decided to swiftly implement a complete ban on mountain entry and a total prohibition on outdoor burning of rice paddies through administrative orders. For Hansik on April 5, it was decided that residents must obtain mountain entry permits from local administrative welfare centers before entering the mountains.
Additionally, Mayor Lee ordered the transfer of national relics from Bogyeongsa Temple, preemptive inspection of fire prevention and extinguishing systems at cultural heritage sites and traditional temples, and thorough management of dangerous activities such as welding at construction sites in areas at risk of fire spread, including those adjacent to forests.
He also requested that local administrative offices at the township and neighborhood level strengthen patrols, crack down on illegal burning, and thoroughly promote wildfire prevention through village broadcasting. He emphasized maintaining a 24-hour emergency response system and carefully monitoring signs of wildfire risk to ensure the safe evacuation of residents in advance.
On the 25th, as signs of wildfire spread toward the Cheongsong area appeared, Pohang sent emergency disaster text alerts to regions at risk and organized patrol teams along the wildfire boundary for 24-hour monitoring as part of its preemptive response efforts.
Furthermore, evacuation orders were issued for residents in Jukjang-myeon, Gibuk-myeon, and Songra-myeon, areas at risk of direct or indirect damage from the wildfire spread, and residents were safely evacuated. Evacuation of elderly and disabled residents in facilities near forest areas was also carried out simultaneously.
Pohang is also closely cooperating with relevant agencies such as fire and police departments, and is strengthening crackdowns on dangerous activities such as illegal burning.
Mayor Lee Kangdeok said, "Do not let your guard down until the very end, and I ask the entire organization to do its utmost to respond to the wildfires with a sense of duty to protect our citizens. As even a small act of carelessness can lead to a large-scale wildfire, I hope citizens will remain vigilant and actively participate in wildfire prevention."
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