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The forest fire that broke out on a mountain in Gangneung this morning (11th) was contained in eight hours. For the first time this year, the highest level of fire response phase 8 was issued, and the equivalent of 3 football fields was reduced to ashes.

First news, reporter Kwang Hyun Choi reports.

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At about half past 520 a.m. today, a fire broke out in a mountain in Nangok-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do.

The fire spread to the coast with strong winds and quickly spread north of Gangneung.

It is estimated that 8.520 million square meters, the area of 379 football fields, were burned and the length of the fireship was 8.8 kilometers.

Forty homes and 40 pensions were burned, and three hotels were also found to be damaged by fire.

In addition, some of the Gangwon Province tangible cultural properties, the Tongyeong Pavilion, were destroyed, and the pavilion around Gyeongpo Lake, the Sangyeongjeong, was burned down, causing damage to cultural properties.

More than 28 nearby residents who were informed to evacuate were evacuated to the Ice Arena and Sichuan Middle School.

More than 3 guests staying at nearby resorts and hotels were also evacuated.

The Forest Service issued Phase 500 of its wildfire response at 700:10 a.m. today.

The authorities deployed more than 3 equipment, including fire trucks and fire extinguishing trucks, and more than 390,2700 manpower, including special fire extinguishing teams and civil servants.

In particular, it was difficult to extinguish the helicopter due to a strong wind speed of 1 meters per second in Gangneung until 30 noon, but as the wind gradually subsided from 2:4 p.m. today, an extinguishing helicopter was deployed, and the main fire was extinguished eight hours after ignition at about half-past 8 p.m. due to rain.

However, the authorities will continue to extinguish the fire until all the remaining fires are extinguished.

The Forest Service believes the fire was caused by a tree falling between utility poles and severing power lines.

The Gangwon Provincial Fire Headquarters issued the first three stages of fire response this year and is focusing on preventing damage by deploying fire trucks near houses.