Troops on reserve to help globally
PUBLISHED: 27 Jan 2025 at 04: 30
After the fire that destroyed hundreds of ray of forest area, deputy prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai gave an order to the military to keep an eye on the bush fire at Khao Chom Hae in Rayong.
Khao Chom Hae covers a bush region of 20, 000 ray in Nikhom Phatthana, Ban Chang and Muang regions. In the last four days, the fire has burned about 30 % of the forest cover.
Mr Phumtham, even Defence Minister, said he received a statement yesterday the position was under command. He claimed that he instructed the army to dispatch soldiers and military technology to assist local authorities and volunteers in halting the fire’s spread. I have instructed the army to set up firebreaks and other products, and take its personnel to assist extinguish the fire and build firebreaks. But, the fire occurred in a rough steep ground and is difficult to put out”, he said.
He had also instructed the armed forces to provide extra staff to assist in national forest fire suppression efforts. He claimed that because one of the major causes of the PM 2.5 dust issue is forest fires, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was concerned about them.
However, Amorntep Leklong, president of Makham Khu city, said firefighters, volunteers, and local authorities were sent on foot to throw out forest flames in areas where dust was detected. Preliminary investigations show that the only areas that are still burning are branch trees. A bulldozer was also used to build a firebreak on a different hill, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby mountains.
Another forest fire has reportedly erupted in Khao Huai Mahad-Khao Nang Yong, which has been designated a national forest supply since January 15, according to Ms. Kornkan Dongdang, a charity for the Environmental Protection Volunteer Network in Rayong. According to her,” On Khao Huai Mahad, about 400 ray of forests have burned along,” adding that the voluntary system by itself does not have sufficient people to put the flames away.
The wildfires have resulted in a rise in fine particulate matter in Rayong that is smaller than 2.5 microns ( PM2.5 ), which has caused respiratory issues for the general public, who are advised to wear masks and limit outdoor activities.
However, in Nakhon Ratchasima, 179 soldiers were mobilised to destroy the forest flames on Phu Lam Yai hills in Wang Nam Khiao area. According to the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office of Nakhon Ratchasima, the woodland fire has destroyed 4, 000 acres of forest since Jan. 23.
In order to contain the fire in the hilly regions that are close to Click Lan National Park, the center also requested plane support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
Khao Yai National Park’s bush fires were reportedly rekindled after park authorities put out the initial fire yesterday morning, according to the Forest Fire Command Center. A total of 40 firefighters battled the incident, said garden general Chaiya Huaihongthong. The procedure lasted about four days. Khao Yai National Park, a World Heritage site, is threatened by bush fires during the dry season. We need to raise our prevention efforts, particularly in danger areas, “he said.