Spring Wildfire Emergency Amid Strong Winds... Full-Scale Response System Activated

Jeonnam Province Operates Wildfire Prevention Headquarters Until May
Focus on Rapid Initial Suppression and Minimizing Damage
Stronger Facility Management and Tougher Penalties for Illegal Burning

At the '2026 Wildfire Site Command Capacity Building Training' held on the 29th at the Lee Sunshin Auditorium of the Jeonnam Eastern Regional Headquarters. Provided by Jeonnam Province

Jeonnam Province has launched its Spring Wildfire Prevention Countermeasures Headquarters, operating for 116 days until May 15, in response to recent dry weather conditions and the increased risk of wildfires. The headquarters is now fully operational, focusing on wildfire prevention and establishing a rapid on-site response system.

The headquarters operates as an integrated response system involving a total of 23 organizations, including Jeonnam Province and 22 cities and counties. It prioritizes not only wildfire prevention but also initial suppression and minimizing damage in the event of a wildfire.

Recently, there has been a steady increase in cases where fires originating from carelessness in using heating appliances such as wood boilers in homes or facilities adjacent to forests, as well as poor management of flammable materials at worksites, have spread to become wildfires.

As of the 29th, there have been a total of seven wildfires in the Jeonnam region (two caused by house fires, two by workplace fires, one by accidental ignition in the forest, and two by discarded cigarette butts).

In response, Jeonnam Province has moved beyond its previous focus on burning prevention measures and is now also strengthening management of buildings and facilities, such as households using wood boilers near forests and solar power generation facilities in forest-adjacent areas.

Additionally, with continued dry weather and strong winds especially in the eastern region, the risk of large-scale wildfires has increased. As a result, wildfire prevention guidelines are being communicated through village and street broadcasts, and surveillance using drones is being intensified in blind spots that are difficult to monitor.

During the operation of the headquarters, Jeonnam Province has deployed 1,082 members of the Forest Disaster Response Team on a constant basis, secured 47,000 pieces of wildfire suppression equipment such as fire trucks, mechanized systems, and backpack pumps, and has 63 drones available, establishing a system for immediate response.

In particular, to strengthen aerial suppression capabilities, one additional helicopter dedicated to wildfire suppression has been leased, bringing the total to 10 helicopters deployed across 10 regions. In addition, a close cooperative system has been established with six helicopters from the Korea Forest Service and fire authorities, making a total of 16 helicopters available for joint initial wildfire suppression response.

In the event of a wildfire, the top priority is to achieve initial suppression within the golden time of 30 minutes, with concentrated deployment of aerial and ground suppression resources. Two to three leased helicopters are dispatched simultaneously, and a close cooperation system among the province, cities and counties, fire departments, the Korea Forest Service, and the police is utilized to quickly contain the spread of wildfires.

Penalties for illegal acts that cause wildfires are also being strengthened. With the enforcement of the Forest Disaster Prevention Act, fines for illegal burning and lighting fires near forests have been doubled to up to 2 million won, and penalties for wildfires caused by arson or negligence will also be significantly increased.

Kim Jeongseop, Director of the Environment and Forestry Bureau of Jeonnam Province, stated, "By operating the Wildfire Prevention Countermeasures Headquarters, we will maintain a seamless response system from prevention to initial suppression, and do our utmost to protect the lives, property, and precious forests of our residents."

Meanwhile, on the 29th, Jeonnam Province held the "2026 Wildfire Site Command Capacity Building Training" at the Lee Sunshin Auditorium of the Eastern Regional Headquarters, with about 60 participants including heads of forestry departments and team leaders from 22 cities and counties, under the supervision of the Korea Forest Service.