“I watched the news reporting the fire is spreading severely”
“The fire that has started around 11 AM today is spreading fast in the hills of Uljin, Gyeokbuk Province.”
“There has been an evacuation order on the residents”
Shim In-Seob, Animal Protection Group ‘LIFE’: The first impression I got was that it’s a very serious matter
Kim Yong-Hwan, Animal Rescue Org ‘RE:BIRTH’: If things go wrong it can turn out to be like
‘Goseong forest fire’ in 2019...
‘Goseong forest fire’ that turned Gangwon Province into ashes 3 years ago
and…
Animals that were consumed by the flames defenselessly…
We were worried there could be that kind of damage in Uljin again
“Let’s do our best in what we can do”
The site they rushed to…
Ah… how are we gonna do this
The flames were jumping from one hill to another due to strong winds
It’s like that up at the front
“It’s a lot more severe than what we see on the news”
I didn't know how we could… it was too chaotic to a point
where I didn't know why I went there. It was pure shocking. Just shocking.
While dodging the flames…
Shim In-Seob, Animal Protection Group ‘LIFE’: Someone must’ve let this dog escape
A retriever left alone on a truck
Let’s get you some water
Production crew: You must’ve been thirsty
Production crew: Are you the guardian? Guardian: Yes
Retriever’s guardian: I brought the fella on the truck since I was anxious to leave the fella alone
Production crew/ What’s the fella’s name? Guardian: It’s ‘Bom’
Bom’s hanging on well, proudly
Production crew: Sir, watch out for the flames
Bom’s guardian: Thank you
Everyone's doing their best at their respective positions…
Since we couldn’t just sit back and watch
wanted to see if there are any animals that have been harmed, tied
Production crew: Did you hear a bark? Shim In-Seob: Yes, yes
Fortunately, the fire hasn’t reached here yet
but, the fire is approaching
Firefighter: A bit more. Yes, alright
Trying to save one more life..
are sacrifices and dedication of the firefighters
While they (the firefighters) were busy moving the fire hose, I saw
their lunchboxes left on the field
I felt so sorry and I am so.. grateful for them
Battle with the fire continued until the early morning
The village that’s been damaged by fire...
is pure misery
and…
Production crew: It’s a roe deer
It seems the roe deer got into a car accident
while it was escaping the fire… coming down to the road
I assumed many wild animals must have been sacrificed…
While searching around the area that’s been damaged by the fire…
“There’s a dog! A dog!”
Production crew: Where?
Shih Tzu won’t budge a muscle on a pile of ashes
It’s okay, it’s okay
There was a dog trembling in fear on the ground
Looking at the face, the face turned black
We transferred the fella carefully into a cage
and after we got ready to transfer the fella to a hospital, we rushed elsewhere
How did this fella end up left alone in a burned-down house…?
But at that moment!
A lady showed up with cats
Production crew: The dog that was here… Lady: It’s our dog
“It’s our dog”
Production crew: Are you sure? Guardian: Yes, I’m sure
What’s the fella’s name? / Mong
As the guardian approached
Mong recognizes the lady
Mong’s guardian: We rode around in the car for 3 days with the dog inside due to the fire
Mong’s guardian: And yesterday, we let the dog loose for a moment to pee
Mong’s guardian: But the fella wouldn’t get back in the car, perhaps anxious
Mong’s family consisted of more pet animals
A black woofer dog
and cattos…
Local victim of fire loss: If we go to the gym (shelter) they provide food and bed
Local victim of fire loss: But, we can’t go because we have pets
We couldn’t just abandon them here and sleep there
So, we lived in a car together
But, even in the midst of all this…
Production crew: Sir, are you preparing a dog house first?
Local victim of fire loss: I’m going to block it here and let the black dog off the leash first
At that moment of devastation from losing their home
Kim Yong-Hwan, Animal Rescue Org ‘RE:BIRTH’: He was making a fence for the dogs
You should take some rest. Take some rest, please
(This is the only thing we can do for you right now)
Fence repairment complete!
Guardian: Oh you must feel refreshed
The woofer dog’s just plain bubbly and excited
Thank you so much… for giving us a hand
Hey fella, let’s cheer up!
It’s been a few years after
Shim In-Seob, Animal Protection Group ‘LIFE’: experiencing this (forest fire damage) in the Gangwon Province
Shim In-Seob, Animal Protection Group ‘LIFE’: But regarding animal evacuation, there is no manual til now
Upon disaster, animals cannot be admitted into the shelter
Pets that aren’t allowed into the shelter… Disaster relief’s blind spot
They’ve dodged the flame, but now they become separated families
Separated families that cannot know of their survival
Goo Cheol-Min, Animal Rescue Org ‘RE:BIRTH’: They become abandoned dogs temporarily and later on
Goo Cheol-Min, Animal Rescue Org ‘RE:BIRTH’: they either become permanently abandoned or go missing…
While searching through the area that’s been damaged by the fire
a dog wanders around the road
Village resident: That dog also walks around without a guardian
Village resident: It’s been two days and whoever stops the dog, the fella stays still
Production crew: I think there’s a registration code
Shim In-Seob: There’s a registration number!
Production crew: You shouldn’t be running after cars
Village resident: This fella would approach anyone
This fella wandering around the road having escaped the fire…
will this fella be able to be reunited with her family again? To be continued in part 2...