Fire risk assessment of UNESCO Historic Villages by heat flux from forest fire

A significant portion of the UNESCO-listed Historic Villages of Korea, particularly those with timber-framed houses and thatched or shingled roofs, face substantial fire risk from forest fires. Research on Yangdong Village revealed that approximately 10% of its structures are directly exposed to high heat flux during forest fires, while another 5% may experience indirect effects due to the spread of initial blazes. The study employed GIS analysis to map house locations and construction materials, combined with numerical modeling of heat flux, to assess vulnerability. Findings underscore the critical need for targeted fire prevention strategies, including fuel elimination, increased separation distances between structures, and improved waterproof facilities to mitigate risks.

Kim, D. Fire risk assessment of UNESCO Historic Villages by heat flux from forest fire. Advances in Forest Fire Research 2018, 780–787. https://doi.org/10.14195/978-989-26-16-506_85