INJE, Gangwon Province – A swift and comprehensive response from authorities successfully contained a significant wildfire that erupted in Hanam-ri, Sangnam-myeon, Inje-gun, within approximately 20 hours over the weekend. The blaze, which broke out around 1:18 PM on Saturday, was fully brought under control by 9:00 AM on Sunday, limiting the affected area to an estimated 73 hectares.
The rapid containment is being attributed to the effectiveness of the recently implemented 'Ultra-fast Wildfire Preparedness Resident Evacuation System Improvement Plan.' This enhanced protocol was developed in the aftermath of a devastating wildfire in North Gyeongsang Province and emphasizes proactive measures, particularly during periods of high wind.
Crucially, the Korea Forest Service (KFS) was able to generate a wildfire spread prediction map within a mere two minutes of receiving the initial fire report. The improved system mandates the use of maximum instantaneous wind speeds during strong wind advisories to create these predictive models. In the case of the Inje fire, a maximum wind speed of 27 meters per second, driven by a southwest wind, was factored into the calculations.
This resulted in a significantly expanded potential danger zone, stretching approximately 17 kilometers. As a precaution, authorities in neighboring Yangyang-gun were also alerted and prepared for potential evacuations, showcasing a heightened sense of vigilance.
"Since there was a strong wind advisory the previous day, we used the maximum wind speed instead of the average wind speed for the prediction," explained a KFS official. "As a result, the spread was predicted to reach from Jeongseon-gun to the boundary of Yangyang-gun, so some evacuations were also carried out in that area."
The KFS immediately disseminated the prediction map to Inje-gun officials. While initial evacuation notifications to the immediate vicinity involved individual contact due to the sparse population, broader safety evacuation text messages were subsequently dispatched across Inje-gun as the fire's potential path became clearer. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety highlighted the inclusive approach, noting that "the evacuation messages even included some residents of Yangyang-gun," underscoring a commitment to erring on the side of caution.
A significant mobilization of resources, including 35 firefighting helicopters and numerous ground personnel, played a vital role in quelling the blaze. The approximately 300 residents who were temporarily evacuated have since returned to their homes following the successful containment of the main fire.
The Inje wildfire was one of ten wildfires, ranging in size, that broke out across the nation over the weekend, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions. Other affected regions included Hongcheon in Gangwon Province and Cheongsong in North Gyeongsang Province. However, the rapid and seemingly effective response in Inje-gun offers a promising sign for the country's enhanced wildfire preparedness.
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