Lessons from the 2025 Simultaneous Wildfires in Korea: Focusing on Emergency Alert Messages

Evidence from recent case studies indicates that the frequency and impact of wildfires have increased in many regions around the world in recent decades. Environmental changes, such as rising temperatures and intensifying droughts, have contributed to the increase in wildfire occurrence and the extension of their duration. Through case studies, this study aims to identify challenges in the delivery of Emergency Alert Messages (EAM) with the goal of improving the safety of wildfire-affected populations. The authors collected EAM data sent during the simultaneous wildfires that occurred in Korea in March 2025 and analyzed the timing and content composition (i.e., intended content objectives) of EAM by region. The intended purpose of EAM transmission was categorized into “Evacuation Information,” “Wildfire Status Reporting,” “Traffic Control Information,” “Wildfire Prevention Information,” “Critical Service Supply (Suspension) Information,” and “Damage Reporting Information.” However, EAM transmissions prior to wildfire outbreaks intended to provide Wildfire Prevention Information were extremely rare. Furthermore, when examined in relation to wildfire spread dynamics, some areas suffered significant casualties despite having sufficient time to provide evacuation guidance, suggesting that EAM failed to play an adequate role in effective emergency response. The results highlight the need for further research to address issues such as delayed EAM delivery, lack of detailed information, and limited information accessibility based on receiver characteristics.