The Busan Fire and Disaster Management Headquarters (Director Kim Jo-il) announced on February 24 that it held an emergency special policy meeting by convening fire department chiefs to prepare and respond to the frequent wildfires spreading in the dry spring weather.
Recently, the risk and frequency of wildfires have increased amid continuous dry weather warnings, raising the national wildfire disaster alert level from “interest” to “caution” in the Busan area since 1 p.m. on the 20th.
On the previous weekend, at around 5:10 p.m. on the 23rd, a wildfire occurred near Seongjigok Water Reservoir in Choeup-dong, Busanjin-gu. A firefighting team of 134 personnel, including four firefighting helicopters— two leased by the city and two others—along with a total of 22 pieces of equipment, were mobilized to extinguish the fire in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
To prepare for and respond to wildfires, the Busan Fire Department has been conducting safety patrols on major hiking trails, promotional campaigns in areas vulnerable to wildfires using volunteer firefighters since November 1 of the previous year until May 15 of this year, and joint firefighting drills targeting temples near the forests.
Moreover, over 600 vulnerable sites, such as temples or cultural heritage sites within or near forests, are undergoing joint inspections and regular on-site drills by each fire department. Evacuation guidance is also being operated for facilities housing vulnerable populations, like nursing homes near forests, to prepare for potential casualties due to wildfires.
Additionally, by strengthening cooperation with local governments, a simultaneous dispatch system for firefighting helicopters and leased helicopters by the City of Busan has been established. Fourteen wildfire response vehicles, eleven emergency water spray devices near forests, and wildfire response equipment totaling around 4,000 items, including backpack pumps, are being regularly operated to focus on initial fire containment and response.
Particularly, the Gijang Fire Department is promoting special measures in collaboration with village heads to enhance residents’ awareness of wildfire prevention and establish a culture of autonomous safety as a means of preparing for wildfires.
Director Kim Jo-il of the Busan Fire and Disaster Management Headquarters stated, “Through smooth cooperation with related agencies such as the City of Busan and the Korea Forest Service, we will prepare for the risk of potentially large-scale wildfires in the dry spring weather and establish a swift response posture,” adding, “As a significant portion of wildfire causes are man-made, we urge citizens to actively participate in wildfire prevention to protect our precious mountains.”