Police launched an investigation after testimony emerged that a wildfire that broke out on the 21st in Changwon, South Gyeongsang, started from a student's fireworks.
Police said they secured eyewitness accounts that a middle school student started the fire while setting off fireworks. Based on this, police plan to identify a suspect and investigate whether there was negligence causing a fire, while confirming the exact scale of the damage.
According to the Changwon Fire Headquarters and police, at about 3:52 p.m. that day, a fire broke out on a hill in Bongnim-dong, Uichang-gu, Changwon, and major flames were contained in about an hour. During the wildfire, heavy smoke rose in the area, leading to 116 related reports to the Changwon Fire Headquarters.
There were no confirmed human casualties from the wildfire that day.
In the early stage of the wildfire, there were concerns that the fire would spread to nearby apartment complexes near the hill. In response, fire authorities issued Response Level 1, which mobilizes all personnel from the jurisdictional fire station, at about 4:15 p.m. that day.
Fire and forestry authorities deployed 146 personnel and 41 pieces of equipment, including 10 helicopters, to carry out suppression efforts and brought the flames under control at about 4:56 p.m., roughly an hour later. Response Level 1 was lifted at about 5:42 p.m.
While fighting the blaze, Changwon City also sent a safety alert text message reading, "Entry into the mountains is prohibited due to the wildfire. Nearby residents and hikers, please be careful to avoid safety accidents."