A wildfire in the northern district of Daegu forced more than 5,600 residents to evacuate and shut down parts of a major highway on April 28, as strong winds pushed flames toward residential areas, officials said.
The fire was brought under control by 12:55 p.m. on April 29, with no casualties reported, according to local fire authorities. Three local schools—Seongbuk Elementary, Seobeon Elementary and Seobeon Middle—were closed for the day.
The blaze began around 2:02 p.m. April 28 on the slopes of Hamji Mountain in Nogok-dong and spread rapidly to neighboring Joya-dong, fanned by winds of up to 15 meters per second, the Korea Forest Service said. A dry weather warning had been in place at the time.
Local authorities issued evacuation orders at 3 p.m. for some 2,200 residents of Nogok-dong and Joya-dong, followed by another order at 5:06 p.m. for 3,400 residents of Seobeon-dong, a residential area with high-rise apartments. More than 100 elderly residents were transferred from nursing homes to nearby medical facilities.
By 6 p.m., the Korea Forest Service had raised its wildfire alert to Stage 3, the highest level, triggered when expected damage exceeds 100 hectares. The National Fire Agency also issued a nationwide mobilization order, activating firefighting resources from across the country.
Traffic in both directions was suspended at the North Daegu Interchange on the Gyeongbu Expressway from 4 p.m. due to low visibility from smoke, the Korea Expressway Corporation said. Police also restricted access to four bridges connecting the fire-affected areas to central Daegu.
The Korea Electric Power Corporation cut electricity to seven households in Joya-dong as a precaution against power line damage.
As of 10 p.m., the blaze had scorched an estimated 151 hectares (373 acres), an area equivalent to about 211 football fields. Witnesses reported firebrands—burning embers carried by wind—similar to those seen in wildfires last month in Uiseong and other regions.
“Embers flew hundreds of meters like sparks from a goblin fire,” said Park Jae-min, a 33-year-old Joya-dong resident.
Plumes of smoke were visible as far as Gyeongsan, about 20 kilometers away.
A separate wildfire broke out earlier this month in Seobeon-dong, where a helicopter pilot died in a crash while battling the flames. The cause remains under investigation, though officials suspect a discarded cigarette.
The latest fire is believed to have started in a restricted hiking area off-limits to the public. Authorities plan to launch a full investigation once remaining hotspots are fully extinguished.
