The area affected by the forest fire that started on the 21st in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, and spread to five municipalities in northern North Gyeongsang Province, including Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, has been provisionally estimated at 33,204 hectares. The firefighting rate is 44.3%. Forest authorities anticipate rain in the North Gyeongsang Province region on the 27th, but have projected that the precipitation will be less than 5 mm, which will not greatly aid in extinguishing the fire.
Im Sang-seob, the Administrator of the Korea Forest Service, held a briefing at the on-site command center for the Uiseong forest fire on the morning of the same day, noting, "We have collected and analyzed extensive video information using satellite data, thermal drones, and fixed-wing aircraft in cooperation with the Coast Guard."
The provisional estimates for the areas affected by the forest fire by region are as follows: Uiseong 12,685 hectares (firefighting rate 54%), Andong 4,500 hectares (firefighting rate 52%), Cheongsong 5,000 hectares (firefighting rate 77%), Yeongyang 3,200 hectares (firefighting rate 18%), and Yeongdeok 7,819 hectares (firefighting rate 10%).
Although rain is forecasted for the afternoon in the North Gyeongsang Province region, the expected precipitation is less than 5 mm. Administrator Im said, "The amount of rain is insufficient, so the impact on extinguishing the forest fire will not be that significant," and added, "We plan to make every effort considering the possibility that the forest fire may continue for a long time."
Winds are expected to pick up in the afternoon, which could lead to the spread of the forest fire again. In the morning, southeast winds in the North Gyeongsang Province region averaged 2 m per second, but by the afternoon, they are expected to increase to 5 to 10 m per second. There will also be strong winds exceeding 20 m per second at times.
Firefighting helicopters are currently deployed only in the Yeongyang and Yeongdeok regions, with four helicopters working on extinguishing the fire. The forest authorities plan to mobilize 4,960 firefighting personnel and 661 firefighting vehicles. Administrator Im stated, "The safety of the firefighting helicopter pilots, firefighting members, and local residents is our top priority, and we will work to minimize casualties and property damage while preventing the spread of the forest fire."
The Uiseong forest fire is projected to be recorded as the largest damage-causing fire in history. The previous largest damage-causing fire occurred in April 2000 in Gangwon Province, affecting Gangneung, Donghae, Samcheok, and Goseong (23,913 hectares), followed by a fire in March 2022 in North Gyeongsang Province, affecting Uljin, as well as Gangwon's Gangneung, Donghae, and Samcheok (20,523 hectares).
Administrator Im noted that "(this forest fire is) larger than in the past," and stated, "The affected area and the area of damage from the forest fire are slightly different concepts, so the final area of damage could be less or more than the affected area after the fire is extinguished."