Wildfire in Jaesan-myeon, Bonghwa Nears Main Containment... 11 Helicopters Deployed for Sunset Suppression Push

Containment Rate Reaches 80%
Twelve Residents Evacuated to Senior Center, No Casualties Reported

The wildfire that broke out in the area of Hyeondong-ri, Jaesan-myeon, Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province, has reached an 80% containment rate thanks to the swift response of forestry and fire authorities, bringing the main fire to its final stage of suppression. Authorities are making an all-out effort to fully extinguish the main fire before sunset by intensively deploying helicopters and firefighting personnel.

Evacuation of 12 Residents to Senior Center as Evolution Rate Rises to 80%, No Casualties Reported

According to Bonghwa County, the wildfire began on the afternoon of January 23 at the upper part of San 227 and the boundary of San 209 in Hyeondong-ri, Jaesan-myeon. As the flames spread due to dry air and steep terrain, Bonghwa County and forestry authorities immediately mobilized all available resources to begin firefighting operations. The estimated area affected so far is approximately 0.7 hectares.

Authorities prioritized securing resident safety, considering the possibility of the fire spreading to nearby homes. Twelve residents of Hyeondong-ri were urgently evacuated to a senior center, and no casualties have been reported to date. Police and firefighters are controlling nearby roads and have established defensive lines near residential areas to minimize damage.

At the scene, 11 wildfire suppression helicopters have been urgently deployed for aerial firefighting. On the ground, a total of 60 personnel have been mobilized, including 16 firefighters, 10 forestry firefighting crew members, 4 special wildfire suppression team members, 6 wildfire monitors, 5 volunteer firefighters, 4 police officers, and 15 Bonghwa County and township office staff. Thirteen pieces of equipment, including fire command vehicles, wildfire suppression vehicles, and ambulances, have also been deployed to support the operation.

In particular, since the flames are continuing along the ridgeline, the special wildfire suppression team is focusing on blocking the fire head to break the chain of spread.

An official from the Bonghwa County Forest Income Resources Division stated, "We are making every effort in close cooperation with related agencies to complete the suppression of the main fire before sunset," and urged, "Residents near the wildfire area should pay special attention to safety to avoid accidents."

Once the main fire is extinguished, Bonghwa County plans to switch to a residual fire monitoring system to prevent reignition, while also conducting further investigations into the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.

Firefighting Efforts Reach 80% Containment of Bonghwa Jaesan-myeon Wildfire, Full Effort to Extinguish Main Fire Before Sunset

With wildfires, it is always 'time' that is more frightening than the flames themselves. Especially when dry weather and steep terrain combine, the fire can suddenly change direction, and from that moment, firefighting becomes a matter of tactics rather than endurance. The urgent deployment of 11 helicopters and the special suppression team's focus on blocking the fire head at the Hyeondong-ri wildfire site in Jaesan-myeon, Bonghwa County, reflect the determination to bring the situation under control before the flames could spread toward residential areas.

Fortunately, 12 residents were evacuated safely without injury, and defensive lines were established swiftly. However, extinguishing the main fire does not mean the end. A wildfire can become another disaster the moment residual embers reignite. The standard for complete suppression is not the containment percentage, but the thoroughness of the residual fire monitoring system. Attention is now focused on whether this wildfire response will go beyond extinguishing the main fire before sunset and become a 'fully responsible suppression' that prevents reignition as well.