Main Blaze on Suraksan Mountain in Seoul Contained After 6 Hours... Three Buildings at Suamsa Temple Destroyed

Area Lost Equivalent to 2.5 Soccer Fields
8 Helicopters and 861 Personnel Deployed

The major blaze that broke out on Suraksan Mountain in Nowon-gu, Seoul, was brought under control after about six hours.

Suraksan Fire. Yonhap News

According to the Nowon Fire Station, a report was received at around 2:27 a.m. on the 26th that a wildfire had occurred near 153-1, Sanggye-dong, Nowon-gu. After receiving a report from a nearby military unit that "flames and smoke were seen on Suraksan Mountain," the fire authorities immediately began firefighting operations.

At 4:06 a.m., shortly after the fire broke out, the Nowon District Office sent out an emergency disaster alert message urging residents and hikers near Suam Temple to evacuate to a safe location.

As a result of the fire, three out of four buildings at Suam Temple, located on the mountainside of Suraksan, were completely destroyed, and approximately 17,380 square meters of forest area-equivalent to about 2.5 soccer fields-were lost. At the time of the fire, only the head monk was present at the temple, but he evacuated quickly and, fortunately, there were no casualties.

The firefighting operation involved a large-scale deployment of resources, including eight helicopters, more than 80 fire trucks, a total of 56 pieces of equipment, and 861 personnel. The fire authorities succeeded in containing the initial blaze at 8:18 a.m., and the main fire was extinguished at 8:20 a.m., six hours after it started. Currently, the Korea Forest Service firefighting team and the Nowon District Office’s own fire brigade are working to extinguish remaining embers.

The police and fire authorities believe the fire originated at Suam Temple and, so far, have found no evidence of arson. The authorities plan to conduct an on-site inspection after the fire is completely extinguished to determine the exact cause, including the possibility of an electrical short circuit.