Multiple cities in South Korea mobilize in response to the Gyeongju wildfire

A large-scale wildfire broke out in Gyeongju on the night of February 7, leaving South Korean city authorities on maximum alert. As the flames spread, the severity of the situation prompted the activation of a national fire response plan, marking a critical moment in the country’s disaster management efforts.

Fire outbreak and rapid escalation

The fire started during the night of February 7 in Gyeongju, located in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. As the blaze expanded across the region, the situation quickly worsened, requiring increasingly robust responses. Fire department officials monitored the advancing flames with concern and initially struggled to contain them with local resources.

Coordinated mobilization of multiple cities

In response to the escalating crisis, a national fire mobilization order was issued at noon on February 8. This activation coordinated efforts across South Korean cities from different regions: Daegu, Daejeon, Ulsan, as well as Gangwon-do Province and Chungcheongnam-do region, all dispatching firefighting crews and equipment to the scene. The cooperation among these cities represented an unprecedented effort to contain the disaster.

On the morning of February 8, at 5:30 a.m., firefighting operations entered their most intense phase. Forty helicopters were deployed simultaneously, along with 104 firefighting vehicles and approximately 300 firefighters on the ground. This volume of resources reflected the scale of the challenge faced by the country.

Challenges posed by weather conditions

Despite the massive mobilization, weather conditions significantly hampered containment efforts. Wind speeds reached 9.5 meters per second, accelerating the uncontrolled spread of the fire. The fire containment rate, which had initially reached 60%, plummeted to just 23% by noon, demonstrating how environmental factors reversed the initial gains of firefighting operations.

This dramatic reversal underscored the urgent need for continued concentrated efforts by South Korean cities to control the fire and protect local populations.