Initially the explosion was thought to have been a mortar shell but South Korean and Iraqi investigators have concluded that it was the result of explosive material buried underground. For now, it's unclear whether the blast was a deliberate act against South Korean forces.

Soldiers from Zayitun unit in an armored vehicle stand guard on the outskirts of the main base camp in Irbil, Iraq, after a blast erupted near the entrance of the camp on Wednesday afternoon./Yonhap

The fire broke out at around two thirty in the afternoon, local time, near Rashkin located just outside of the main compound of South Korea's Zayitun division. Military investigators are still searching for the exact cause of fire but no official comments are out as of yet.

No human casualties have been reported. There were at least 30 head of sheep at the moment - the question of why they were unable to flee still remains unanswered. Witnesses say, the fire was the result of an explosion. Around twenty to thirty military investigators are trying to gather as much information as possible. Judging by the scene, some had initially suspected of the first mortar attack against South Korean troops, while others ruled out the possibility.

South Korean civilians inside the cab were among the first to witness the blaze and smoke from the planes less than one kilometer east of the out boundary of the camp. They say they heard a loud popping sound followed by the smell of something burning that's definitely melted grassland. So for now, all possibilities are open. Even at this hour, speculations are running wild as to how the fire was initialized, and what conclusion the South Korean troops have drawn.

Earlier in the day, all non-military personnel inside the camp were barred from going outside after intelligence pointed to a possible terror attack against South Korean civilians.

Arirang TV