Uljin hillside wildfire blamed on trash burning; main fire out in 95 minutes
In short
A wildfire broke out at about 11:46 a.m. on October 9 on a hill in Bangyul-ri, Giseong-myeon, Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province, and was put out about 1 hour 35 minutes later. Four firefighting helicopters, 27 vehicles and 74 personnel were deployed, Newsis reported. The fire started while trash was being burned behind a house and spread to the nearby hill, according to the North Gyeongsang fire authorities.
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A wildfire broke out at about 11:46 a.m. on October 9 on a hill in Bangyul-ri, Giseong-myeon, Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province, and was put out 1 hour 35 minutes later, Yonhap and Newsis reported. Newsis and Chosun Ilbo said the main fire was brought under control at about 1:21 p.m. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the North Gyeongsang Fire Headquarters, cited by Newsis, the fire started while trash was being burned behind a house and spread to the nearby hill. Chosun Ilbo reported that fire authorities believe the blaze began in a bamboo grove behind a nearby house through carelessness during trash burning before spreading to the hill. [ 2 , 4 ]
Newsis reported that forest authorities deployed four firefighting helicopters, 27 firefighting vehicles and 74 personnel. Chosun Ilbo said fire authorities mobilised four helicopters, among other resources. Both outlets said authorities would investigate the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage once the remaining embers were cleared. [ 2 , 4 ]
"Since a spark from a small act of carelessness can lead to a large wildfire, illegal burning of farm by-products or trash near forests must never be done," a fire official told Chosun Ilbo. [ 4 ]
Chosun Ilbo cited an analysis of Korea Forest Service data by Kim Seon-kyo (김선교), a member of the National Assembly's agriculture, food, rural affairs, oceans and fisheries committee. It found 2,831 wildfires nationwide from 2021 to July this year, with accidental fires caused by people entering mountains the leading cause at 744 cases, followed by trash burning at 286. [ 4 ]
The paper also noted that trash burning was one of the causes of the wildfire that started in Uiseong County in March last year and left 27 people dead and 40 injured across five cities and counties including Uiseong and Andong. That fire started at two points, in Angye-myeon and Anpyeong-myeon, and the Angye-myeon fire began while farm by-products were being burned in an orchard. The person responsible, a 63-year-old surnamed Jeong, was indicted for violating the Forest Protection Act and received a suspended sentence of two years and six months, suspended for three years, at first instance. Prosecutors appealed, arguing the sentence was too light, and a ruling is due on the 16th, Chosun Ilbo reported. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
Chosun Ilbo tied the fire to illegal trash burning, which data cited by lawmaker Kim Seon-kyo ranks as the second most common cause of wildfires nationwide since 2021. A fire official warned that small sparks from such burning can lead to large wildfires.
Key facts
- The fire broke out at about 11:46 a.m. on October 9 on a hill in Bangyul-ri, Giseong-myeon, Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The fire was put out 1 hour 35 minutes after it started. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The main fire was brought under control at about 1:21 p.m. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Four firefighting helicopters, 27 firefighting vehicles and 74 personnel were deployed, Newsis reported. [ 2 ]
- The fire started while trash was being burned behind a house and spread to the nearby hill. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Authorities plan to investigate the exact cause and extent of damage once remaining embers are cleared. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A fire broke out at about 11:46 a.m. on October 9 on a hill in Bangyul-ri, Giseong-myeon, Uljin County. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The fire was put out 1 hour 35 minutes after it started. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The main fire was brought under control at about 1:21 p.m. with four helicopters among the resources deployed. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The fire began during trash burning near a house and spread to the nearby hill. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage. Authorities said they would investigate these after clearing the remaining embers; no damage figures were given.
- Whether anyone was hurt. None of the reports mention casualties.
- Which agency led the firefighting. Newsis attributed the operation to forest authorities, while Chosun Ilbo attributed it to fire authorities.