“Level-3 Response,” Wildfire in Gangneung Spreading Quickly While Typhoon-level Winds Ground Helicopters

A wildfire that started in the hills near Nangok-dong, Gangneung-si in Gangwon quickly spread to nearby areas due to the strong wind at around 8:22 a.m. April 11. Courtesy of the Gangwon Fire Headquarters

A wildfire broke out in the hills near Nangok-dong, Gangneung-si in Gangwon-do at around 8:22 a.m. April 11, and due to strong winds, it is spreading rapidly to nearby villages.

The fire and forestry authorities have dispatched over forty vehicles and equipment including fire engines and trucks and more than two hundred special fire fighters and civil servants to fight the fire.

Currently, strong winds with a maximum speed of 29m/s are blowing at the location of the fire, making it impossible to dispatch helicopters.

At present, gusts of wind are spreading the wildfire to nearby villages and homes. Four houses near the area where the fire first started have been damaged by the fire.

The Gangwon Fire Headquarters issued a “level-3 response” at 9:43 a.m. Tuesday, after it issued a “level-2 response” at 9:19 a.m. the same day. The Gangneung-si government also texted emergency safety messages informing residents in seven tongs including tongs 10, 11, and 13 in Gyeongpo-dong to evacuate to the Gyeongpo-dong Community Service Center or the Ice Arena.

The Fire Headquarters have dispatched fire engines to nearby homes concentrating efforts to prevent damage. They believe the fire spread from sparks ignited when fierce winds caused a pine tree to fall and hit an electrical wire.

On Tuesday, a drought alert as well as a strong wind alert was issued in the Yeongdong region, which includes Gangneung.