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Mayor Park Heong-joon Orders Stronger Wildfire Prevention Measures Ahead of High-Risk Spring Period

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that it will strengthen wildfire prevention measures as the risk of wildfires is expected to increase with the approaching Qingming/Arbor Day (April 5) and Hansik (April 6).
These periods are typically marked by dry weather and strong winds, making them particularly prone to concentrated wildfire outbreaks.

To proactively and comprehensively respond to large-scale spring wildfires, the city has been operating the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters from March 23 to May 15. It plans to further strengthen the functions of the wildfire prevention headquarters, maintain a 24-hour emergency contact system, and establish a robust initial response framework.
In particular, the city and its districts and counties will enhance wildfire prevention activities by ▲conducting intensive inspections of wildfire-prone areas ▲cracking down on improper handling of wood-burning boilers within and near forests ▲operating mobile inspection teams on holidays ▲flexibly adjusting working hours for monitoring personnel.

In addition, patrols and surveillance will be reinforced in wildfire-prone areas such as public cemeteries and temples, as well as in restricted mountain entry zones. Intensive crackdowns will be carried out on illegal burning activities along agricultural field ridges and near forests, as well as on the use of incense by grave visitors. The city also plans to remove flammable materials in advance to eliminate potential wildfire risks.
At the same time, during daytime, leased helicopters will be deployed to conduct wildfire prevention awareness broadcasts and aerial surveillance, alongside promotional activities targeting grave visitors and spring excursionists.

To ensure rapid response in the event of a wildfire, the city will establish emergency contact networks with public cemeteries and temples or hermitages within forest areas. It will also reinforce initial firefighting readiness by securing water supply for firefighting vehicles and conducting comprehensive inspections of equipment.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “Spring is a season when the number of mountain visitors increases, and the combination of rising temperatures and strong winds significantly raises the risk of wildfires rapidly escalating into large-scale incidents.” He added, “Especially during the Qingming and Hansik period, when visits to mountains are concentrated, smoking, cooking, and illegal burning must be strictly prohibited during hiking or grave visits. I urge everyone to exercise special caution and refrain from using flammable materials near agricultural fields or forest-adjacent areas.”