Firefighters grapple with blazes in provinces across the nation

A FOREST FIRE in Chiang Mai’s Khun Chang Khian highlands that started on Sunday afternoon was brought under control early yesterday.

It reportedly blackened 300 rai (48 hectares) of the forest, which is part of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. Members of the Fire Tiger Special Task Forces in four provinces were dispatched to join park officials to form a 70-strong team that is continuing to patrol the area.

Park officials along with Fire Tiger members from Khon Kaen, Kanchanaburi, Chachoengsao and Chiang Mai checked four key areas, finding and containing several hotspots where fire still smouldered, Chiang Mai Forest Fire Fighting Operation Centre head Pongpawat Yaiwongkorn said.

Firefighters remain on watch around the clock in the area to monitor for new outbreaks.

Northern Royal Rainmaking Centre chief Neungreuthai Tantiplabthong requested a helicopter from the Agriculture Ministry to aid two rainmaking helicopters in firefighting and surveying the damaged area.

She credited the prompt firefighting response to the integration of all responsible agencies. She also complimented Chiang Mai residents for being on a |fire alert and sending lunch boxes and drinking water to firefighters.

The recent fire upset many Chiang Mai City residents who were concerned that the Doi Suthep Pagoda – a provincial landmark and holy site – would be affected. Posts on Facebook mistakenly claimed the fire was located at Doi Suthep.

During an Interior Ministry executive meeting yesterday – which was broadcast live via video conference to provincial governors, district chiefs and local governing bodies – the Chiang Mai governor was urged to find who had spread false information about the fire and take action against them.

A separate fire in Narathiwat’s Sungai Padi district, which started last Tuesday, remained critical yesterday as flames spread across firebreaks, a source reported. 

Thanya Netithamkul, director-general of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation, visited the area to give moral support to firefighters and joined a meeting with senior officials. They were told the fire had spread from farmlands to a part of the Bang Nara River Basin Forest Reserve before moving to consume 200 rai of the Toh Daeng peat swamp forest.

At press time, five forest fire hotspots still had to be contained – including three in Sungai Padi and two in nearby Sungai Kolok district. 

The last two spots could rekindle rapidly due to winds, so backhoes were being used to clear firebreaks in the area. Wells were being dug every 20 metres for firefighters to use. In three areas, fire was seen spreading crossing firebreaks as it ignited organic material in the soil.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday expressed concerns over the fires in both the North and South, instructing local Army units to lend water-carrying helicopters to aid firefighting efforts.

He said the outbreaks should be solved at the root of the problem – when people light fires in the forest – rather than waiting to tackle them after they have developed. 

The PM said the government was trying to take care of poor people who collected forest products so they no longer needed to do work that could lead to fires, adding that he has instructed relevant agencies to integrate their activities to find solutions. 

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said the Chiang Mai fire wouldn’t lead the ministry to set up special zoning areas, but her office would discuss with the Natural Resource and Environment Ministry and other agencies about contributing factors for forest protection.

Since fires are common in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai as well as nearby areas in neighbouring countries, tourists in Thailand understood the problem and it wouldn’t affect tourism, Kobkarn said.

In related news, a forest fire at the popular attraction Khao Thalu in Chumphon’s Sawi district that started on Sunday night prompted the district chief to order residents in at-risk five villages to prepare for evacuation in case the situation escalated.

As of 3pm, Tambon Khao Thalu Adminstrative Organisation deputy president Thiwa Panchan said the fire had spread through the three tambons of Khao Thalu, Khao Khai and Na Sak. About 300 households and 1,000 people in three villages were affected. 

As of press time, the fire had damaged 500 rai of durian, coffee, rubber and palm oil plantations while generating a smoke plume that was 10 kilometres in radius.

 

 

 

TERRITORIAL DEFENCE volunteers and soldiers yesterday joined The Border Consortium (TBC) non-governmental organisation and Myanmar refugees to rebuild 10 houses at Ban Um-Piam refugee camp in Tak’s Phop Phra district following a major fire last week.

Five homes were engulfed by flames and five other houses were torn down to make way for fire teams working to control the situation. The team rebuilding houses was led by district clerk Santi Intanin while the materials were donated by TBC. A check dam was also built to address concerns about water shortages in the area. – THE NATION