Operation of the Forest Fire Prevention Countermeasures Headquarters
Goseong County in Gyeongnam Province will operate its Forest Fire Prevention Countermeasures Headquarters and implement various wildfire prevention measures from November 1 until May 15 of the following year, with the goal of achieving zero wildfires.
The county has established the Forest Fire Prevention Countermeasures Headquarters, maintaining a 24-hour emergency contact system in close cooperation with relevant agencies, focusing on the main office and all towns and townships. In addition, to prevent wildfires and ensure rapid initial response, the county has fairly recruited and operates 32 wildfire suppression team members and 101 wildfire monitors.
New initiatives for wildfire prevention are also drawing attention. The county is proactively working to prevent wildfires by managing 120 hectares of forest along forest roads and roadsides, removing potential wildfire hazards in advance.
Furthermore, by enacting an ordinance to support wildfire prevention activities, the county has distributed throwable fire extinguishers and ash disposal containers to approximately 370 households that use wood stoves or wood boilers in forest-adjacent areas, thereby preventing wildfires caused by carelessness in these households.
In addition, to establish a rapid wildfire response system, Goseong County has purchased a new forest command vehicle, enabling the display of wildfire situation maps and drone surveillance footage inside the vehicle. The county is also working to minimize forest damage by deploying leased helicopters intensively in the early stages of a wildfire.
Above all, the safety of suppression team members and wildfire monitors is the top priority. All monitoring personnel have been enrolled in workers' accident insurance, and safety equipment and personal firefighting gear have been modernized.
The professional wildfire prevention and suppression team has been supplied with flame-resistant helmets, shoes, and gloves, while wildfire monitors have received foldable backpack pumps and fire rakes.
County Governor Lee Sanggeun emphasized, "As recent cases have shown, even minor carelessness can lead to wildfires that cause significant loss of life and property, which we have all experienced. It is essential to take proactive measures for prevention and to respond swiftly in the event of a wildfire to prevent its spread."
Meanwhile, even accidental wildfire offenders may face imprisonment of up to three years or fines of up to 30 million won. In addition, anyone caught burning debris within forests or within 100 meters of forest-adjacent areas will be fined 300,000 won under Article 57 of the Forest Protection Act. This year, Goseong County has imposed fines for 20 cases of agricultural byproduct burning.
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