A wildfire broke out on Mount Bukhan in Seoul late Saturday but was almost contained after about three hours, officials said. The fire started around 7:25 p.m. and was 95 percent contained by 10:10 p.m. The risk of it spreading to nearby areas appears low.
A wildfire broke out around 7:25 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026, on a ridge near the Hyangrobong peak of Mount Bukhan in central Seoul. Firefighting authorities reported the blaze started in the vicinity of temples in the Jongno Ward.
By 10:10 p.m., about three hours after it began, the fire was 95 percent contained, having burned an estimated 165 square meters of land. Authorities deployed 346 personnel and 29 firefighting vehicles to battle the blaze.
An official at the forest service stated that the risk of the fire spreading to nearby areas appears low, and firefighters are working to extinguish the remaining embers. Officials plan to investigate the exact cause once all embers are put out.
Mount Bukhan is a prominent mountain in Seoul, popular with hikers on weekends, highlighting the importance of swift response in such incidents. The fire was contained quickly, preventing major damage.
