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From today (the 21st), SBS has prepared an order to look at how to prevent large-scale wildfires.

Today, let's take a look at the forest fire extinguishing helicopter first.

The nature of wildfires has limitations in putting out the fire directly, so an extinguishing helicopter is important, but under the current conditions, it is difficult to fulfill its role at night.



Reporter Hong Seung-yeon reported.



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White smoke rises from the expansive forest, and red flames engulf the forest in an instant.



A total of 821 helicopters were used in the east coast forest fire.



The firefighting and military mobilized all available helicopters, including 117 helicopters for suppression of forest fires, but to no avail.



Although the forest fire lasted 213 hours, the actual time spent by helicopters was about 100 hours a week.



At night it was helpless.



[Byeong-am Choi / Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service (last 8 days): It is difficult to evolve helicopters at night, so we continue with ground personnel…

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There are state-of-the-art helicopters equipped with night vision goggles, but there is only one in Korea.



This Surion helicopter is the only aircraft capable of extinguishing wildfires at night in Korea.



Since its introduction in 2016, it has been put into the night firefighting work for the second time in history, but it has not been able to carry out the main fire firefighting work.



The length of the main fire was several kilometers, so the road was not enough.



[Cho Seong-guk / Captain Surion: In order to protect the Geumgangsong area, which can be re-ignited because it was judged that putting one unit in to catch the main fire was not effective...

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Only a budget has been secured to introduce two additional night helicopters, and it will take at least three years after placing an order for the actual introduction.



There are currently only three experienced night helicopter pilots. 



[Cho Seong-guk / Captain Surion: I have no choice but to fly with night vision goggles at night.

(Normal helicopter) The pilot cannot hold fresh water by flying in place over the surface of the water.]



There are only about 400 firefighters specializing in forest fires belonging to the Korea Forest Service.



Fortunately, they are scattered across 27 national forest management offices, so there are only 20 people per region.



Local governments are responsible for 67% of private forests, which rely on firefighters, military personnel, and volunteer fire brigade.



[Mina Jang / Head of Forest Fire Research Department, Korea Forest Fire Prevention Technology Association: These resources are not specialized for putting out fires in the mountains, but equipment and manpower specialized for protecting the surroundings.

So, you can't climb the mountain with that equipment.]



To prevent large-scale wildfires, it is imperative to prepare advanced firefighting equipment such as helicopters and train specialized firefighters rather than ad hoc response.



(Video coverage: Hwang In-seok, video editing: Won-hee Won)