Anyang City Operates Spring Forest Fire Prevention Period…Strengthens Fire Prevention Management Through Drone Surveillance

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Yu Je-seong] Anyang City announced on the 17th that it is making an all-out effort to prevent forest fires through drone surveillance through May.

Anyang City, which is adjacent to Gwanak Mountain, Samseong Mountain, Bibong Mountain, Suri Mountain, Waryong Mountain, and Seoksu Mountain, has had no forest fires in the past two years, with the goal of continuing its zero-accident record this year.

According to statistics from the Korea Forest Service, there were 101 forest fires in Gyeonggi Province last year and 459 nationwide.

The city has established a Forest Fire Prevention Countermeasures Headquarters centered on the Parks and Urban Planning Division and both District Offices' Traffic and Greening Divisions, and is operating the "Spring Forest Fire Prevention Period" from January 20 to May 15.

Emergency personnel from the Parks and Urban Planning Division and both District Offices' Traffic and Greening Divisions are focusing on forest fire prevention and monitoring activities for citizens, hikers, and environmental protection on weekdays (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) and weekends and holidays (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and will respond swiftly to extinguish fires in case of emergency.

Additionally, 23 members of the Forest Disaster Response Team, who have received forest fire extinguishing training, patrol vulnerable areas in the city to focus on preventing forest fires and initial extinguishing.

The city also conducts educational flights using leased helicopters around farmland adjacent to mountain areas, weekend farm vinyl greenhouses, and farm sheds.

Furthermore, the city is strengthening its monitoring system using the Smart Forest Fire Prevention System introduced in 2021.

Surveillance cameras (CCTV) installed at the Bibong Mountain observation deck (1 unit) and Samseong Mountain communication tower (2 units) are operated around the clock, and solar-powered unmanned surveillance cameras at 5 hiking rest areas (2 at Bibong Mountain, 2 at Samseong Mountain, 1 at Suri Mountain) are monitoring smoking and cooking activities.

Mayor Choi Dae-ho said, "I request special attention and cooperation from citizens so that forest fires that take away lives and nature in an instant do not occur."