Large Wildfire Erupts in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang... Level 2 Response and Resident Evacuation Order

Rapid Spread Due to Strong Winds

Less than a year after a major wildfire broke out in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province last spring, another large wildfire has erupted and is currently being contained.

According to the Korea Forest Service on January 10, at approximately 3:15 p.m. that day, a fire of unknown origin started at the summit of a 150-meter-high hill in Bibong-ri, Uiseong-eup, Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province.

At 3:41 p.m., the Korea Forest Service issued a Level 2 wildfire response alert and mobilized 52 pieces of firefighting equipment, including 8 helicopters and 49 wildfire suppression vehicles, as well as 315 personnel (200 Uiseong County employees, 55 wildfire suppression team members, 50 firefighters, and 10 police officers) to contain the blaze. The fire department has also deployed 13 helicopters for wildfire suppression efforts.

Yonhap News Agency

As the wildfire rapidly spread, driven by a northwesterly wind with a speed of 6.4 meters per second, the county ordered residents of Oro-ri, Palseong-ri, and Bibong-ri in Uiseong-eup to evacuate to the Uiseong Gymnasium.

A strong wind advisory had been in effect in Uiseong County since the morning of January 10. The humidity at the site where the wildfire started was measured at 33 percent.

The Korea Forest Service stated, "We are investigating the cause of the wildfire and will deploy all available firefighting resources to ensure there are no casualties."