TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A wildfire erupted Monday (April 14) morning in Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑), a popular geothermal area within Yangmingshan (陽明山) National Park, one of Taiwan's most visited natural attractions. The Taipei City Fire Department (北市府消防局) responded swiftly to the 11:17 a.m. blaze on Zhuzihu Road (竹子湖路), deploying 72 firefighters and approximately 20 fire trucks to combat the flames that engulfed roughly 250 square meters and threatened to climb higher into the mountainous terrain.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) issued an urgent advisory via Facebook, calling for local residents and hikers to steer clear of the Xiaoyoukeng vicinity until further notice. The mayor stressed that public cooperation would both enhance safety and allow emergency responders to work unimpeded. Fire authorities mobilized substantial resources to battle the blaze, including four command vehicles, 16 fire engines, an ambulance, and a surveillance drone providing aerial assessment of the spreading fire.
The Department of Environmental Protection (環保局), Taipei's environmental monitoring agency, has implemented continuous air quality surveillance throughout the city as smoke from the mountain fire raises pollution concerns. Mayor Chiang assured residents that his administration would provide regular updates as firefighting efforts progress and environmental conditions change. ★