South Korea Deploys 500 Troops and 27 Helicopters as Miryang Wildfire Fully Extinguished
Updated (23 articles)
Massive Military Support Sent to Central Wildfire Zones The Army dispatched roughly 500 service members and 27 helicopters—including 12 CH‑47 Chinook heavy‑lift and 15 UH‑60 Black Hawk utility aircraft—to the fire‑hit areas of Seosan, Yesan, Hamyang and Miryang on Feb 24, 2026. Soldiers are constructing firebreaks, transporting supplies and extinguishing residual flames alongside forestry crews. This deployment supplements the civilian firefighting effort that has already contained the main blazes. [1]
Miryang Wildfire Declared Extinguished After Intensive Effort The Korea Forest Service confirmed the Miryang blaze was fully out at 12:30 p.m. on Feb 24, after burning about 143 hectares—equivalent to 200 football fields. More than 1,500 responders, 52 helicopters and 318 pieces of equipment were mobilized, and light rain aided containment. Authorities reported zero casualties and no property damage, while a Level 2 wildfire response and a national firefighting mobilization order remained in effect. [2]
Earlier Reports Show Progress Before Full Extinguishment By the early morning of Feb 23, the Miryang fire was 51 percent contained, with a 5.8‑km fire line of which half had been extinguished. The response at that stage involved 31 helicopters, over 600 personnel and nearly 160 fire trucks, and 184 residents and patients were evacuated without injuries. The incident triggered a Level 2 response after the fire surpassed 100 ha and wind speeds exceeded 11 m/s. [5]
Hamyang Fire Fully Contained After 44 Hours of Operations The Hamyang County wildfire was declared fully contained at 5 p.m. on Feb 23, after scorching 234 hectares. The operation employed roughly 1,600 firefighters, 115 helicopters and 250 pieces of equipment, and Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok visited the site to pledge support for evacuees. A Level 2 response and a national firefighting mobilization order were activated as the fire exceeded local capacity. [6]
Seoul’s Eunma Apartments Fire Leaves One Fatality blaze erupted at 6:18 a.m. on Feb 24 in the Eunma Apartments, Daechi‑dong, killing a teenage girl and injuring three others while prompting the evacuation of about 70 residents. Firefighters contained the fire within 30 minutes and fully extinguished it by 7:36 a.m. Police and fire services have launched investigations into the cause and will assess property damage. [3][4]
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: South Korea Deploys 500 Soldiers and 27 Helicopters to Fight Central Wildfires – Details the scale of the military deployment, helicopter types, and focus on Seosan, Yesan, Hamyang and Miryang.
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2.
Yonhap: Miryang Wildfire Main Blaze Extinguished After Massive Response – Reports full extinguishment time, area burned, responder numbers, and zero casualties.
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3.
Yonhap: Fire at Seoul’s Eunma Apartments Kills One, Injures Three – Describes the apartment fire timeline, death of a teenage girl, injuries, evacuation count, and upcoming investigations.
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4.
Yonhap: One Dead, Three Injured After Fire at Seoul’s Eunma Apartments – Confirms casualty figures, fire start time, evacuation of 70 residents, and rapid containment.
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5.
Yonhap: Miryang Wildfire Contained 51% After Two Days, Massive Resources Deployed – Provides earlier containment percentage, helicopter and personnel counts, and evacuation details.
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6.
Yonhap: Hamyang Wildfire Fully Contained After 44 Hours – Highlights total area burned, extensive aerial and ground resources, Prime Minister’s visit, and Level 2 response.
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7.
Yonhap: South Korea’s Hamyang County Wildfire Enters Third Day, Prime Minister Visits – Notes 190 ha burned, 32 % containment, 51‑helicopter plan, and Prime Minister’s inspection.
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8.
Yonhap: South Korea’s Hamyang Wildfire Enters Third Day, Helicopters Deployed – Mirrors article 7 with emphasis on helicopter deployment and containment challenges.
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9.
Yonhap: Seoul Wildfire on Mount Bukhan Nearly Contained Within Three Hours – Reports rapid 95 % containment of a small 165 m² forest fire on Feb 21, with 346 personnel deployed.
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10.
Yonhap: Wildfire Ignites on Seoul’s Mount Bukhan, Officials Assess Low Spread Risk – Provides initial ignition details, low spread risk assessment, and planned investigation.
Timeline
Mar 22, 2022 – South Korea experiences its worst wildfire disaster, with 26 dead, 31 injured, roughly 99,289 ha burned and about 3,500 people evacuated; the blaze later underpins suspended‑sentence rulings for its arsonists. [16]
Jan 2023 – The integrated gasification combined‑cycle (IGCC) facility at Taean Thermal Power Plant suffers a fire, establishing a precedent for later incidents at the same plant. [21]
Dec 9, 2025 – A fire erupts at Taean Thermal Power Plant, injuring two workers with second‑degree burns; authorities suspect a gas explosion, evacuate the plant, and note the 2023 IGCC fire as a prior event. [21]
Jan 10, 2026 – A hillside wildfire ignites in Uiseong County at 3:15 p.m., the main blaze is contained by 6 p.m.; Level 2 response deploys 10 helicopters, 51 vehicles and 315 personnel, and evacuation orders move residents to community centers amid 33 % humidity. [19]
Jan 16, 2026 – A blaze in Seoul’s Guryong village displaces roughly 200 residents; 1,258 firefighters and 106 units respond, interior minister Yun Ho‑jung orders a full mobilization, and flammable makeshift housing is cited as a key factor, though no casualties occur. [14][15]
Jan 16, 2026 – Two men receive suspended prison terms for starting the March 2022 Uiseong wildfires, reflecting legal accountability for the nation’s deadliest recent fire. [16]
Feb 21, 2026 – A wildfire ignites on Mount Bukhan at 7:25 p.m.; firefighters achieve 95 % containment by 10:10 p.m., burning only 165 m², with 346 personnel and 29 engines deployed, and an investigation into the cause is announced. [9][10]
Feb 22, 2026 – Hamyang County’s wildfire enters its third day, scorching 190 ha and remaining 32 % contained; 51 helicopters are slated for daylight deployment, and a Level 2 response with national mobilization is in effect. [8]
Feb 23, 2026 – Hamyang wildfire is fully contained at 5 p.m. after 44 hours, having burned 234 ha; 1,600 responders, 115 helicopters and 250 pieces of equipment are used, and Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok visits the site and pledges relief. [6]
Feb 23, 2026 – Miryang wildfire reaches 51 % containment after two days; the fire line stretches 5.8 km, 600+ responders and 31 helicopters are on scene, 184 residents are evacuated, and a Level 2 response is activated. [4]
Feb 24, 2026 – The main blaze of the Miryang wildfire is fully extinguished at 12:30 p.m., after burning 143 ha (≈200 football fields); over 1,500 responders, 52 helicopters and 318 pieces of equipment are deployed, and no injuries or property damage are reported. [1]
Feb 24, 2026 – The South Korean Army dispatches roughly 500 soldiers and 27 helicopters (12 Chinooks, 15 Black Hawks) to assist firefighting in Miryang, Hamyang, Seosan and Yesan, building firebreaks and tackling remaining hotspots. [2]
Feb 24, 2026 – A fire breaks out at the Eunma Apartments in Gangnam at 6:18 a.m., killing a teenage girl and injuring three; about 70 residents evacuate, the blaze is contained within 30 minutes and fully extinguished by 7:36 a.m., and authorities launch an investigation into its origin. [3][5]
2030 (planned) – The long‑awaited redevelopment of the Eunma Apartments proceeds, with approval for 5,893 new units across 49‑floor towers slated for completion by 2030. [3]
Dive deeper (6 sub-stories)
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South Korea Deploys 500 Troops and 27 Helicopters as Miryang Wildfire Extinguished
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