A nighttime firefighting operation was carried out between the night of the 30th and the 1st at Geumgangsan, where the flames rekindled less than a day after they were extinguished.
Forest authorities and local governments mobilized more than 590 personnel and over 30 pieces of equipment to focus on eliminating the embers overnight. In particular, they established firebreaks to prevent the embers from spreading in the densely populated areas of Seobyun-dong and Guam-dong. Fire authorities also deployed over 60 fire trucks and around 200 personnel centered in this region.
Just before the nighttime firefighting operation, approximately five locations were estimated to be rekindled; however, as of 5 a.m. on the 1st, this number decreased to one due to the overnight firefighting efforts. This location is on the western ridge from the summit of Geumgangsan, and it is reported that the fire line is only about several hundred meters long. The wind is blowing weakly at about 1 m per second from the southwest, creating conditions favorable for firefighting operations.
Due to the rekindled wildfire, the area affected by the Geumgangsan fire has increased by about 30 hectares to 295 hectares, but it appears that it did not spread significantly overnight, according to the Daegu city government.
Forest authorities plan to mobilize about 40 helicopters for final firefighting as soon as dawn breaks. Furthermore, rain is forecasted for the afternoon in this area, allowing authorities to believe that complete extinguishment will be possible within the day.
Meanwhile, 265 residents near Geumgangsan have been evacuated to four locations, including Paldal Elementary School, Dongbyeon Middle School, Yeongyeong Elementary School, and Bukbu Elementary School, with many staying awake throughout the night. About 120 patients and staff from a nursing hospital have been transported to medical facilities in safe areas.
The Geumgangsan fire originally broke out around 2:01 p.m. on the 28th of last month. This fire burned 260 hectares of the affected area and was extinguished by 1 p.m. on the 29th, after 23 hours. However, about six hours later, around 7:31 p.m. on the 29th, a partial rekindling occurred on the 7th ridge toward Baegnyeonsa Temple in Geumgangsan. Forest authorities noted, "We are mobilizing all available personnel and equipment for firefighting operations."