[One Month After the Uiseong Wildfire] ① Human Actions Caused It, the Wind Fueled It

Editor's NoteIt has been a month since the Uiseong wildfire broke out in North Gyeongsang Province. Time has passed relentlessly, but the scars left by the flames remain. The Uiseong wildfire surpassed even the record of the 2000 East Coast wildfire, previously known as the worst wildfire in history. The area of forest lost was vast, and the damage to people and facilities was also significant. Restoring nature once destroyed takes a long time, and the scars in the memories of those who experienced the wildfire will not heal easily either. There is no guarantee that a second or third Uiseong wildfire will not occur. This article examines the characteristics and causes of recent large-scale wildfires, as well as the challenges that forestry authorities must address in the face of such disasters.

"Human actions provided the cause, and the wind fueled the flames." This is how people describe the recent Uiseong wildfire that swept through the North Gyeongsang region.

On the 15th, I visited the wildfire-affected areas in Uiseong and Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. The wildfire first broke out on the 22nd of last month. Nearly a month had passed since the initial outbreak, but traces of the fire were still visible everywhere.

When I visited the site of the Uiseong wildfire on the 15th, the traces of the flames were easily visible even from a distance. Trees charred black by the fire and those less affected by the flames formed distinct layers. Photo by Jeong Ilwoong

From the entrance to Uiseong County, mountains charred black like charcoal were clearly visible even from a distance. The forests, which should have been lush and green in mid-April, were lined with trees reduced to bare skeletons, exposing the inner landscape. Although trees remained, it was as if the forest was empty. Even trees not directly affected by the flames had leaves turned brown, looking diseased, and formed distinct layers compared to the unaffected ones.

This was not a sight limited to a particular spot or a few locations. While driving between Uiseong and Anseong, it was difficult to find any intact mountain. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the fire swept through all the forests in this area.

The unique acrid smell of the fire site was strong, intensified by the rain that had fallen the previous day. It was difficult to keep the car windows open while driving between Uiseong County and Andong City. Meanwhile, local residents could be seen everywhere. Those who had evacuated to nearby shelters to escape the flames were gradually returning home and working hard to clean up their surroundings.

Debris of houses destroyed in the Uiseong wildfire site is scattered messily. Photo by Jeong Ilwoong

Residents with towels around their necks bent over to clear debris from the fire, others stared blankly at their collapsed homes, and some gathered in small groups to talk. It was difficult to find even a faint smile among them. Most residents had dark, worried expressions.

The devastation from the wildfire was also evident deep within the mountains. The forest, which I had seen from a distance, was completely scorched inside. Most trees had been engulfed by flames, leaving only their trunks, and it was hard to sense any vitality in the forest. Several trees were broken at the waist, likely weakened by the intense heat and snapped by strong winds.

The soil had also lost its original properties. The natural color of the earth was gone, and stepping on the ground, the hardened, shiny texture was immediately noticeable. It was hard not to wonder, "Can life ever grow here again?" Forestry experts say it takes 40 to 100 years to restore forests reduced to ashes by wildfire, and that enormous effort and cost are required during this period. Their words did not sound exaggerated.

The forest lost its vitality, with not a single leaf left, trees burnt by fire, and soil scorched by the flames losing its life force. Photo by Jeong Ilwoong

The Uiseong wildfire first ignited at around 11 a.m. on the 22nd of last month in Goesan-ri, Anpyeong-myeon, Uiseong County, and spread to five nearby cities and counties, including Anseong, Yeongyang, Yeongdeok, and Cheongsong. Most analyses agree that the wind played a major role in spreading the flames from Uiseong throughout North Gyeongsang Province.

According to the Korea Forest Service and the Korea Meteorological Administration, the national average temperature from the 21st to the 26th of last month was 14.2 degrees Celsius, which is 6.4 degrees higher than the average for 1991-2020. This marks the highest mid-March temperature on record. During the same period, cumulative precipitation in the Gyeongsang region over the past four months was only half of the average.

In particular, the strength of the wind, identified as the main cause of the wildfire's spread, exceeded 25 meters per second. In fact, Andong Hahoe Village recorded a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 27.6 m/s, Uiseong Oksan-myeon recorded 21.9 m/s, and Uiseong Danbuk-myeon recorded 20.4 m/s. These were the strongest daily maximum wind speeds recorded in March since 1997.

Lee Seokwon, head of the Forest Protection Team at the Southern Regional Forest Service, whom I met in Uiseong, said, "Many people at the scene see the Uiseong wildfire as a typical large-scale wildfire that started from human actions and was magnified by the wind. Usually, the direction and scale of a wildfire can be predicted based on wind direction, wind speed, and topography, but the Uiseong wildfire created an unpredictable situation that rendered previous wildfire experience useless."

He added, "We thought the fire would be extinguished in a day or two, but it turned into a massive wildfire, causing the largest damage ever. The sense of helplessness and bewilderment at the scene was immense. Even after the fire was finally extinguished, it was difficult for people on site to even say 'good job' to each other because the damage was so great."

Facilities and vehicles reduced to their frames by flames were still found in various places along the roads nearly a month after the Uiseong wildfire. Photo by Jeong Ilwoong

The damage from the Uiseong wildfire was not limited to forests. From the 22nd to the 28th of last month, 27 people died and 40 were seriously or slightly injured by wildfires in North Gyeongsang Province alone. The invisible scars were also deep. For local residents who experienced the large-scale wildfire directly or indirectly, the psychological wounds will not heal for some time.

Lee Bokhui (70, female), whom I met in Sinwol-ri, Uiseong County, said, "I never imagined I would see such a huge fire in my own front yard, something I had only seen on television. I was able to escape harm only because the police came and helped me evacuate while I was panicking and confused by the big fire," she said with relief.

She continued, "After evacuating to a temporary shelter to escape the wildfire, I returned home to find the sarangchae completely burned down, and the house where my son, who had returned to the countryside, was staying was so badly damaged it was unrecognizable. The fact that no one was hurt is a great comfort, but I think the fear I felt at the time will remain as trauma for a while, as I am startled even by the smallest spark."

Ryu Siguk, the head of Gugae 2-ri in Uiseong County, is explaining the situation during the Uiseong wildfire. Photo by Jeong Ilwoong

Ryu Siguk (63), the head of Gugae 2-ri in Uiseong County, also said it was a stroke of luck that there were no casualties in the village. Ryu said, "When I heard that there were many deaths and injuries in the area, my heart sank. I am just grateful that there were no casualties in our village, considering it a blessing."

However, there are still many problems to be solved in the village. Gugae 2-ri is a small village with about 60 residents living in around 40 houses. However, due to the recent Uiseong wildfire, about 30 houses were destroyed, and residents lost their homes.

Ryu said, "Most of the residents who lost their homes still cannot return to the village and are temporarily staying at their children's houses or nearby motels. For the elderly residents to return to their original places and regain their previous lives, it will probably take quite a long time," he said, shaking his head.