🔥 South Korea Wildfire Crisis: Exhausted 60-Year-Old Firefighters on the Frontline

Sancheong forest firefighters are taking a break while building a defense line

The Sancheong (산청) and Hadong (하동) wildfires in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea, have been raging for six consecutive days, exposing serious flaws in the country's wildfire response system. Among the firefighters on the frontline, the average age is 61, and their daily wage is only 80,000 KRW ($60 USD). These brave individuals face extreme dangers with minimal protective gear, highlighting the urgent need for system reform.

👨‍🚒 Elderly Firefighters Facing Extreme Conditions

Sancheong forest firefighters are taking a break

Many of the fire suppression personnel are older workers who are hired as temporary employees by local governments. They are responsible for fire prevention, monitoring, and assisting in suppression efforts, yet when a wildfire breaks out, they are the first to be sent into danger. Tragically, four personnel lost their lives in the Sancheong and Hadong fires, including three contract firefighters in their 60s and a government worker in his 30s.

The equipment provided to them was severely inadequate. Instead of fire-resistant helmets, they were given construction helmets, which melted under intense heat. They had no flame-resistant suits, leaving them completely vulnerable to fire. Their firefighting tools consisted of only basic fire rakes and portable water pumps, which were ineffective against large-scale fires. Survivors described horrifying scenes, recalling how the lack of fireproof clothing left them exposed and how the absence of emergency escape plans resulted in several firefighters being trapped by sudden wind changes. Some of the responders suffered severe burns and had to be rushed to the hospital.

⚠️ Poor Training and Equipment Put Lives at Risk

The sight of firefighters fighting to extinguish the ‘worst wildfire in history’in Uiseong

Unlike professional firefighters, who receive months of rigorous training, wildfire suppression teams are given just 10 hours of training before being deployed to high-risk environments. The flaws in the system became evident as the protective gear proved to be grossly insufficient. Their construction helmets melted under extreme heat, and with no proper fireproof clothing, they were left completely exposed to the flames. Fire suppression tools were also inadequate, as fire rakes and small water backpacks were no match for a rapidly spreading wildfire.

Perhaps most concerning is the lack of proper risk assessment before sending these firefighters into danger. The deceased personnel had no access to hazard predictions or evacuation plans, leaving them completely unprepared for the fire’s unpredictable spread. The Public Service and Transport Workers' Union condemned the situation, stating that the deployment of firefighters without proper safety measures was inexcusable.

💰 Low Wages and Harsh Working Conditions

Andong Gilan-myeon wildfire extinguished

The vast majority of wildfire firefighters in South Korea are temporary or contract workers, making them one of the most vulnerable labor forces in the country. Their average age is 61, with some workers as old as 68+ in certain regions. Despite the dangerous nature of their job, their monthly salary is only 2.8 million KRW ($2,100 USD), and they receive little to no benefits or allowances. Although their official work schedule is five days a week, when wildfires break out, they are expected to work nonstop, often through the night.

Due to the low wages and extreme risks, younger generations are unwilling to apply, leaving local governments struggling to recruit personnel. In some cases, physical fitness requirements have even been lowered to allow older individuals to participate. This has resulted in tragic incidents, such as a 76-year-old applicant in Jangseong, Jeollanam-do, who collapsed and died during a physical test last month.

🚒 Calls for Urgent Reform

Aging 60-years-old firefighters are taking a break

Experts warn that without systemic reform, similar tragedies will continue to occur. To prevent further loss of life, the government must implement key reforms, such as increasing full-time hires to reduce reliance on elderly contract workers. Providing modern protective equipment, including fireproof suits and proper helmets, is essential for their safety. Training programs must be expanded to ensure that firefighters are well-prepared before being sent into wildfire zones. Additionally, securing national-level funding is necessary to modernize firefighting equipment and improve response strategies.

The Korean Firefighters' Union has issued a stark warning, emphasizing that without a national wildfire response system and proper funding, these tragedies will continue to occur. They argue that under the current system, every major wildfire puts firefighters' lives at serious risk. The Sancheong and Hadong wildfires have exposed the deep flaws in South Korea’s wildfire suppression system. Without urgent reforms, more lives will be lost in future wildfire disasters.

📚 Learn Korean Through This News

Let’s break down a poignant passage from the wildfire coverage in Korean:

"환갑을 넘긴 진화대원이 산불 현장 최전선에 섰다. 건축현장에서 쓰는 안전모를 썼고, 등짐펌프 하나를 메고 있었다. 방화복도, 방염텐트도 없었다. 그리고 영영 집으로 돌아가지 못했다."

Key Vocabulary:

• 진화대원 (jin-hwa-dae-won) = firefighter (literally "suppression team member")

• 산불 현장 (san-bul hyeon-jang) = wildfire site
• 최전선 (choe-jeon-seon) = front lines
• 건축현장 (geon-chuk-hyeon-jang) = construction site
• 안전모 (an-jeon-mo) = safety helmet
• 등짐펌프 (deung-jim-peom-peu) = backpack water pump
• 방화복 (bang-hwa-bok) = fireproof suit
• 방염텐트 (bang-yeom-ten-teu) = flame-resistant tent
• 영영 (yeong-yeong) = forever (in this context, "never")

Translation:
"A firefighter past his sixtieth birthday stood on the front lines of the wildfire. He wore a construction-site hard hat and carried a single backpack pump. He had no fire-resistant suit or flame-retardant tent. And he never made it back home."

 

Reference: 서울신문, 한겨레 뉴스

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