An Octogenarian Admits to Causing Wildfires in Okcheon and Yeongdong: "My Hands Were Cold"

After clearing weeds in the field, set fire to weed pile with a lighter
A to be summoned for detailed investigation
To be formally charged with accidental fire under the Forest Protection Act

On the 23rd of last month, a suspect who started a wildfire in Okcheon, Chungbuk, which spread to Yeongdong, admitted to starting the fire because his hands were cold.

According to Yonhap News, on the afternoon of the 1st, the Okcheon-gun Forest Department's special judicial police inspected the scene at the suspect A's field in Jocheon-ri, Cheongseong-myeon, the initial ignition point, and received a written confession containing this information from A.

Wildfire in Jocheon-ri, Okcheon. Chungbuk Fire Headquarters

A stated, "After clearing weeds in the field, I lit a lighter on the weed pile," and this was confirmed as his admission.

Okcheon-gun also found traces of someone setting fires at one or two other nearby locations around the ignition point and asked A if he was responsible, but he reportedly denied those allegations.

Okcheon-gun plans to summon A for a precise investigation based on the written confession and the forest authorities' on-site inspection results, and formally book him on charges of arson under the Forest Protection Act.

Earlier, at around 11:55 a.m. on the 23rd of last month, a fire broke out on a hill in Jocheon-ri, Okcheon-gun. The fire spread to a hill in Busang-ri, Yongsan-myeon, Yeongdong-gun, burning approximately 40 hectares of forest.

A tried to extinguish the fire himself but suffered a first-degree burn on his hand. While being transported by ambulance, he admitted to the paramedics that he accidentally started the fire while burning trash.