More than 100 officials and volunteers managed to put out a wildfire on a mountain near Mae Chan Hospital in Chiang Rai as about 360 rangers tried to stop wildfire around the edge of Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Nayok.
The Doctor Kluai Facebook page on Wednesday night uploaded photos of wildfire and said it seemed to be spreading in Doi Chorakhe, located 1.5 kilometres from Mae Chan Hospital.
It was reported that Mae Chan district chief Varawut Khomboon gathered more than 100 officials from various agencies, including the administrative office, the Royal Forest Department and local administrative organisations, as well as volunteers to douse the fire.
However, it was reported that helicopters could not be used as it was nighttime, and officials found it difficult to douse the fire due to the steep terrain, leaving an area ravaged by the fire.
Another wildfire was also reported at the Myanmar border near Doi Ku Teng Na Yong and Ban Huay Nam Rin in Mae Sai district, according to the post.
The blaze on the mountain peak started to spread to a viewpoint around Doi Chorakhe, and smoke blanketed Phahonyothin Road at the Mae Chan-Chiang Rai section, it said.
Yesterday, the Facebook page said the authorities had successfully put out the wildfire and that the hospital will take in patients affected by the fire and cooperate with the Chiang Rai public health to tackle the wildfire and PM2.5 pollution.
The hospital has arranged clean rooms and placed additional air purifiers in patient wards, it said, adding it also has an emergency protocol to evacuate patients to Chiang Rai Hospital if necessary.
Athapol Charoenshunsa, acting chief of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said helicopters were used to release 22,500 litres of water to douse the fire that spread from Khao Tabak to the edge of a Khao Yai National Park area.
Officials had assessed the situation for the safety of 360 rescuers, he said, adding the blaze could have been accelerated by strong winds. Three remaining fire spots were sighted around the forest in Chong Yang Daeng, he said.