Chiang Mai Forest Fires: 30,000 Rai Devastated Across Three Districts

(CTN News) – A number of Chiang Mai provinces, including Hot, Chomg Thong, and Mae Cham, have been devastated by fires that have destroyed approximately 30,000 rai (4,800 hectares) of forest.

In the past week, the fires, which erupted almost simultaneously in Hot, Chomg Thong, and Mae Cham districts, have primarily affected the Ob Luang National Park.

The fires have continued to burn uncontrollably. In the village, people are believed to be searching for edibles and burning farm remnants which are believed to be the cause of these fires.

When the fires were visible at night, they lit up the sky red, while during the day, they caused white smoke to cover the area, indicating that dry foliage had been consumed by the flames.

Chiang Mai PM2.5 Monitoring Center Detects 69 Hotspots: Hot District Bears the Brunt

In his statement on Sunday (Feb 25), Deputy Chiang Mai Governor Thossapol Puan-udom informed that he is actively involved in the efforts to put out the fires. Firefighting efforts in the high mountain areas have been particularly challenging due to the challenging terrain and the current dry and hot weather conditions.

As a result of the fire crisis, the fire command center in the Hod district has requested aerial support from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, which, in turn, has requested assistance from the Third Army Area for aircraft to assist with the firefighting effort.

As of Sunday, the Chiang Mai PM2.5 monitoring center has identified 69 hotspots in the region, with the majority of them being located in Hot district. A number of areas have also been affected, including Mae Cham, Doi Tao, Chomg Thong, Mae Taeng, San Sai, Prao, Mae Kwang, and Chiang Dao.