Wildfire in Muju Fully Contained... "Extinguishing Remaining Embers" Cleanup Underway

171 Personnel Deployed for Second Day
"Concern Over Reignition Due to Strong Winds, Turning Over Even Fallen Leaves"

The wildfire that broke out in Muju-gun, North Jeolla Province on the 26th was largely brought under control within a day, but as of the morning of the 28th, efforts to extinguish remaining embers are still ongoing at the site.

According to the North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province Fire Headquarters and other authorities, the forestry agency, fire department, military units, and local government have mobilized two helicopters and 171 personnel at sunrise to focus all efforts on extinguishing the remaining fire.

Around 9:21 PM on the 26th, a fire that started at a house in Bunam-myeon, Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do spread to the mountain, sending smoke rising into the darkness. Yonhap News

Firefighting personnel are spraying water throughout the mountain to prevent reignition and are turning over the ground covered with thick fallen leaves to put out residual embers. An official from the provincial fire headquarters stated, "We are paying special attention because even extinguished embers can reignite in dry weather combined with strong winds."

The wildfire started at a house in Bunam-myeon, Muju-gun at around 9:28 p.m. on the 26th and spread to the nearby hills. The main fire was brought under control by around 10 p.m. on the 27th, and as of the morning of the 28th, all 221 evacuated residents have returned home.

Fortunately, there were no casualties, but one house and one farm hut were burned. The affected area is estimated to be about 85 hectares, and the final scale of the damage will be determined after a detailed investigation by the forestry authorities.