Today (the 5th) around 1:30 pm, a forest fire occurred in a mountain in Bonghwa-eup, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and the forestry authorities have issued the second stage of the forest fire and are working to extinguish it.
The fire that started in the mountain behind Hwacheon Church in Bonghwa-eup burned three houses as of 4:50 pm three hours after the fire started and spread to the vicinity of Susik-ri, Mullya-myeon, about 2 km to the east.
Bonghwa-gun asked the local residents to evacuate to a safe place, and now about 20 residents from 10 households have taken refuge at the village hall and prayer center.
The forestry and firefighting authorities are putting in 25 helicopters, 460 manpower, and 60 equipment to carry out firefighting work.
An official from Bonghwa-gun said that the goal is to turn off the main lights before sunset and clean up the residual fires after sunset, as the wind has subsided a lot more than the first time.
The second stage of a forest fire is issued when the average wind speed is 4 to 7 m/s, the estimated damage area is less than 100 ha, and the extinguishing time is less than 24 hours.
An official from the Korea Forest Service said, "As of 4 pm, the fire extinguishing rate is 60%, and it is considered that the fire was caused by the ash of the firewood boiler."
(Photo = provided by the Korea Forest Service and Gyeongbuk Fire Department, Yonhap News)