○…장마가 일찍 끝나고 연일 전국적인 폭염이 지속되면서 여름철 산불이 크게 증가해 성묘철 앞두고 주의 필요. 산림청에 따르면 7월부터 8월 19일까지 발생한 산불은 57건으로 지난해 3건, 최근 10년, 평균 3.8건과 비교해 급증. 7월에는 15건의 산불이 발생했으나 40일 넘게 폭염이 지속되면서 8월 들어 산불 발생이 급증해 19일간 총 42건 발생. 국립산림과학원 산림재해예측분석센터는 7월은 강우량이 적고 기온이 높아 산불이 증가했으며, 8월과 9월에도 폭염이 이어져 산불위험도가 산불조심기간에 준하는 ‘보통’단계를 유지할 것으로 전망. 산림청은 “추석이 빨리 있어 이른 벌초나 성묘객들로 인한 산불이 증가함에 따라 추석을 앞두고 벌초 등 성묘객들을 대상으로 산불 안전교육 및 홍보를 강화하겠다”는 계획.