Daegu Hamji Mountain Wildfire Cause Confirmed as Accidental Ignition from a Male Smoker in His 60s

The cause of the wildfire that occurred at Hamji Mountain in Daegu’s Buk-gu has been determined through investigation to be accidental ignition from a cigarette lit by a male in his 60s.

On the 27th, Daegu Gangbuk Police Station announced that they had sent the suspect, Mr. A, in his 60s, to the prosecution without detention on charges of violating the Forest Protection Act.

According to police investigations, Mr. A is accused of starting the wildfire while smoking a cigarette on Hamji Mountain on the afternoon of April 28. The police narrowed down the suspect through a thorough analysis of closed-circuit (CC) TV footage and witness statements, ultimately identifying Mr. A as the person responsible for the accidental fire.

The investigating authorities estimate that the cigarette butt lit by Mr. A was carried by the wind to the ignition point, resulting in the wildfire. However, it is reported that during the investigation, Mr. A acknowledged that he had smoked a cigarette on Hamji Mountain but completely denied the allegation that his cigarette was the cause of the wildfire.

Thorough Investigation Reveals the Circumstances of the Wildfire

A police official stated, "As a result of a multifaceted investigation, including on-site inspections, it is estimated that the cigarette butt was the cause of the wildfire," and added, "Currently, we are waiting for the prosecution's decision on whether to indict."

The wildfire, which began around 2:01 PM on April 28, was initially extinguished within 23 hours but experienced re-ignition and was ultimately fully extinguished around 8 AM on May 1.

According to results from a joint inspection conducted by related agencies at the time, the fire is estimated to have started approximately 400 meters away from the hiking trail.

From the early stages of the wildfire, the police deemed the likelihood of natural ignition to be low, prompting active investigations to locate the arsonist.

As a result, CCTV analysis and witness testimonies led to the identification of Mr. A, who was subsequently sent to the prosecution for violations of the Forest Protection Act.

Image Source: A fire spreads around Hamji Mountain in Nokgok-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu, around 2 PM on April 28 / News1, reference photos for the understanding of the article / gettyimagesbank