A major forest fire in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, has achieved a 33% suppression rate, with authorities transferring unified command authority to the Korea Forest Service director ahead of further spread.
Fire Origin and Progress
The blaze ignited in the Samnangjin area of Miryang at 4:10 p.m. on January 23. By the following day, firefighters had suppressed 1.65 kilometers out of a 5-kilometer full containment line, reaching the 33% mark. The fire has scorched approximately 95 hectares, marking it as the largest active wildfire nationwide.
Suppression efforts slowed after sunset when helicopters withdrew, allowing the flames to advance more steadily despite ongoing ground operations.
Unified Command Transfer
The Korea Forest Service central fire suppression headquarters decided to hand over large-scale unified command authority to Director Park Eunsik starting at midnight. Director Park plans to directly oversee the combined suppression committee addressing the fire’s progression.
Even if the fire threatens residential areas in the forest district, the forest chief retains full suppression authority regardless of related damages.
Intensified Firefighting Response
Local fire departments issued a Level 1 response at 5 p.m., mobilizing all personnel from relevant stations. About 40 minutes later, the national forest fire support team from Dongwonryeong arrived on site. The Korea Forest Service dispatched its first suppression unit around 5:20 p.m.
The fire rages on a mountainside roughly 250 meters high, where gusty winds fuel flames amid an average canopy height of 3 meters.
