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Wildfire Erupts on Seoul’s Mount Bukhan, Officials Say Spread Risk Remains Low

Updated (14 articles)
  • This photo, provided by the Korea Forest Service on Feb. 21, 2026, shows a wildfire that broke out on Mount Bukhan in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
    This photo, provided by the Korea Forest Service on Feb. 21, 2026, shows a wildfire that broke out on Mount Bukhan in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    This photo, provided by the Korea Forest Service on Feb. 21, 2026, shows a wildfire that broke out on Mount Bukhan in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) Source Full size

Fire Breaks Out Near Jongno Temples on Mount Bukhan at 7:25 p.m. blaze ignited close to historic temples in Seoul’s Jongno Ward on Saturday evening, prompting rapid deployment of emergency crews who arrived within minutes of the 7:25 p.m. report [1]. Firefighters established a command post on the mountain and began direct attack operations while evacuating nearby hikers as a precaution [1]. The incident was logged by the Korea Forest Service, which confirmed the exact time and location of the ignition [1].

Firefighters Focus on Extinguishing Embers and Evaluate Spread Potential. Crews concentrated on dousing remaining hotspots to prevent flare‑ups, employing water cannons and hand lines across the affected slope [1]. A forest service official assessed that the probability of the fire reaching adjacent residential districts or forested areas remained low, citing favorable wind conditions and limited fuel load [1]. Teams continued to monitor the perimeter through night‑vision equipment to ensure the blaze would not reignite [1].

Authorities Announce Investigation and Release Photographic Evidence. Seoul officials disclosed plans to investigate the cause of the wildfire, emphasizing accountability and future prevention measures [1]. The Korea Forest Service issued a photograph on February 21, 2026, documenting the fire’s extent and the progress of suppression efforts [1]. The investigation will involve coordination between municipal fire departments, the forest service, and local law‑enforcement agencies [1].

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Timeline

Dec 9, 2025 – A fire erupts at Taean Thermal Power Plant, injuring two workers with second‑degree burns; authorities suspect a gas explosion in the integrated gasification combined‑cycle (IGCC) facility and evacuate the plant, while noting the IGCC unit suffered a similar blaze in Jan 2023, prompting a thorough investigation of the cause[12][12].

Jan 10, 2026 – A large wildfire breaks out on a hillside in Uiseong County at 3:15 p.m., triggering a Level 2 response with 10 helicopters, 51 fire‑suppression vehicles and 315 personnel; the main blaze is contained by 6 p.m., residents are ordered to evacuate to community centers, and officials launch an investigation while recalling that a major fire swept the area last spring, underscoring persistent wildfire risk[10][11].

Jan 16, 2026 – A blaze ignites in Seoul’s low‑income Guryong village around 5 a.m., displacing about 200 residents, prompting the deployment of 1,258 firefighters and 106 units, and leading Interior Minister Yun Ho‑jung to order a full mobilization and safety checks of empty houses; a temporary shelter opens at a nearby middle school as investigators probe the cause in a settlement built in the 1980s and awaiting redevelopment[5][6].

Jan 16, 2026 – The Daegu District Court hands down suspended prison terms to Shin (2 years) and Jeong (2½ years) for igniting the March 22, 2025 Uiseong wildfires that become South Korea’s deadliest on record, killing 26, injuring 31, scorching 99,289 ha and forcing 3,500 evacuations, while the court orders 120 hours of community service and cites insufficient proof of direct causation[7].

Feb 3, 2026 – A fire breaks out at SPC Samlip’s Siheung confectionery plant around 2:30‑3 p.m., prompting a Level 1 response with roughly 70‑130 firefighters and 50 pieces of equipment; three workers suffer minor smoke‑inhalation injuries, the blaze is contained by 6:55 p.m., and police and fire officials schedule a joint inspection the following day to investigate reports of an explosive sound[2][3][4].

Feb 21, 2026 – A wildfire ignites on Mount Bukhan at 7:25 p.m. near temples in Jongno Ward; firefighters focus on extinguishing remaining embers while a forest‑service official assesses a low risk of spread, and Seoul authorities announce an investigation to determine the blaze’s origin, releasing a photo of the fire’s extent the same day[1].

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