National Wildfire Disaster Alert Raised
Ban on Use of Fire and Strict Crackdown
Uiseong County in North Gyeongsang Province has issued an administrative order to completely ban entry into all forest areas throughout the county and restrict all use of fire, including burning and smoking, in order to prevent wildfires.
Uiseong County announced on the 4th that these measures have been in effect since the national wildfire disaster crisis alert was raised to "serious" on the 31st of last month.
Under this measure, access to forests and adjacent areas is restricted, and all use of fire, including making fires, smoking, and burning trash, is prohibited.
Violators will face legal sanctions such as criminal penalties or fines in accordance with the Forest Protection Act, Waste Management Act, and Natural Parks Act. Even if a wildfire is caused accidentally, offenders may be subject to imprisonment for up to three years and liable for damages.
The county, in cooperation with related agencies such as the fire department and police station, has assigned all staff to emergency duty and is strengthening patrols and crackdowns on illegal burning, focusing on areas vulnerable to wildfires.
Kim Jusu, the governor of Uiseong County, stated, "A wildfire is not just a simple disaster but a crisis that can lead to significant loss of life," and urged, "We ask all residents to actively participate in wildfire prevention."
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