A large forest fire that started in South Gyeongsang Province has spread through North Gyeongsang Province to Chungcheongbuk-do and is still burning after five days. This forest fire is characterized by flames rapidly spreading through oily conifer needles and branches, resembling a "goblin fire."
Since the 21st, forest fires have occurred in areas including Sancheong, Hadong, and Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province, as well as in Uiseong, Andong in North Gyeongsang Province, Ulju in Ulsan, and Okcheon in Chungcheongbuk-do. Experts explain that the abundance of coniferous trees, such as pines, in these regions has contributed to the scale of the forest fires. An official from the National Institute of Forest Science noted on the 25th, "Compared to broadleaf trees, conifers have less moisture and more oil, which allows them to burn trees more quickly and emit more heat," saying, "The fire intensity cannot help but increase."
The fire ignites grass and leaves on the forest floor and climbs up tree trunks. Following this, the entire tree becomes a pillar of fire, especially spreading to the areas where branches extend and foliage is dense. This phenomenon is referred to as "crown fire."
In a situation where flames have spread upwards in the forest, strong winds can cause the fire to quickly spread to distant areas. The phenomenon of burning embers being carried by the wind, known as "spot fire," occurs. In fact, the forest fire that broke out in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province on the 21st spread to Hadong in the southwest, carried by the wind. The maximum wind speed at the time was 11 meters per second. Additionally, the fire that occurred in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province on the 22nd also spread to Andong in the north on the 24th as the wind blew at 15 meters per second.
The National Institute of Forest Science explains that the speed of forest fire spread increases by more than 26 times when strong winds blow. An official from the National Institute of Forest Science noted, "In our country, spot fires usually occur up to 1–2 kilometers," adding, "In countries like Australia, spot fires can occur up to 20 kilometers."
Dry weather has also impacted the forest fires. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Sancheong in South Gyeongsang Province recorded 42.3 millimeters of precipitation in March this year (from the 1st to the 24th), less than half of last March's 89.9 millimeters. The precipitation in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province in March this year was 29.6 millimeters, about half of last March's 55.3 millimeters. Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province also received 28.2 millimeters in March this year, which is 25% of last March's 112.6 millimeters. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts rain on the 27th. However, the atmosphere in the forest fire areas is dry, making it likely for the raindrops to evaporate quickly.
As of today, the forest fire has resulted in 15 casualties (4 deaths, 5 serious injuries, and 6 minor injuries). The Korea Forest Service and fire authorities have deployed over 6,700 personnel, 110 helicopters, and equipment to combat the blaze. The current average extinguishing rate is 88%.