On the eve of the 6/3 local elections, an unknown fire broke out in a hill near the National Election Commission building in Gwacheon City, Gyeonggi Province. [KBS News Capture]

As the counting of votes for the 6/3 local elections was about to begin in earnest, an unknown fire broke out in a hill near the National Election Commission building in Gwacheon City, Gyeonggi Province.

According to the Gyeonggi Provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters, at around 7:50 PM on the 3rd, a report was received via 119 from a witness who saw flames on the mountainside behind the National Election Commission building in Jungang-dong, Gwacheon City.

In response, police officers from the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency's mobile unit, who were already deployed to the scene in preparation for emergency situations on election day, began initial suppression efforts using fire extinguishers. The fire authorities, upon receiving the report, swiftly deployed 11 pieces of equipment and 33 personnel to carry out firefighting operations. The fire was completely extinguished around 8:07 PM, just 17 minutes after the report was received.

There were no casualties in this fire, and no significant damage was reported to major facilities such as the main building of the National Election Commission. However, a portion of the surrounding forest area was lost.

An investigation revealed that the fire started on a walking trail within the Election Commission's premises, approximately 100 meters away from the main building. This area is known to be difficult for outsiders to access.

A police official stated, "There is a fence installed around the Election Commission, making it difficult for outsiders to access the ignition point. We are meticulously analyzing nearby CCTV footage and other evidence to determine the exact cause."

Currently, the police and fire authorities, considering the special circumstances of the election, are investigating the exact cause and circumstances of the fire, leaving open all possibilities, including arson.