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A spark from a power transmission tower is being considered as a possible source of the wildfire in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.

As per Gyeongju City and other reports on the 8th, locals near the location of the wildfire that occurred in Munmuwangdaeong-myeon on the afternoon of the 7th mentioned that the fire started at a power transmission tower.

A local inhabitant described seeing sparks coming from the transmission tower located directly beneath Ipcheon Village, the starting point of the fire. A Gyeongju City official stated, “An elderly resident from Ipcheon-ri, who we encountered at the site following the wildfire, said, ‘I heard a loud sound from the transmission tower and then saw flames,’” and continued, “The individual mentioned, ‘I heard a ‘boom’ and went outside to see the tower on fire.’”

The city’s tree management office intends to examine if sparks from the power transmission tower were responsible for the fire once the flames have completely died down.

The Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has not made any definitive statements prior to the ongoing investigation. A representative from KEPCO mentioned, “We are still unable to determine if the fire started at the transmission tower or if it moved there after the wildfire began,” and noted, “So far, no confirmed results have been obtained, but we are examining the timing of any possible spark.”

A fire broke out in Munmuwangdaeong-myeon around 9:40 p.m. the day before. By 6 p.m. on the 8th, the primary blaze had been put out. The area impacted covers 54 hectares, and the Korea Forest Service is still handling remaining embers.