A total of 3,123 fires broke out in North Gyeongsang Province last year, leaving 60 dead, according to the tally. The impact of the "North Gyeongsang wildfire," the worst on record that occurred in Uiseong in March, was significant.
The North Gyeongsang Fire Headquarters on the 18th released an analysis of fires that occurred in the province with these findings. Fire-related injuries totaled 224, and property damage reached 1.16 trillion won.
The number of fires increased by 191, or 6.5%, from a year earlier, casualties rose by 70, or 32.7%, and property damage grew by 1.08 trillion won, or 1,283.2%. Authorities said the damage stemmed from the massive North Gyeongsang wildfire that began in Uiseong in March last year.
By location, 785 fires (25%) occurred at residential facilities, 830 (27%) outdoors and on roads, 501 (16%) at industrial facilities, 470 (15%) involving automobiles and railways, and 537 (17%) in other places.
The leading cause was carelessness, with 1,401 cases (44.9%). Fires due to electrical factors numbered 789 (25.3%), the second most. In addition, 218 cases (6.9%) were of unknown cause, 395 (12.6%) were due to mechanical factors, and 320 (10.3%) were classified as other.