The Director of Protected Area Regional Office 16 in Chiang Mai says the wildfire situation remains under control for now, as forest areas still retain moisture. However, fires have begun spreading into the southern part of Chiang Mai over the past 1–2 weeks, moving north from Tak and Lamphun provinces. The most serious situation is currently in Doi Tao district and parts of Ob Luang National Park.
Kritsayam Kongsatri, Director of Protected Area Regional Office 16, said dry conditions have caused leaves to accumulate on the forest floor, increasing fuel loads in deciduous dipterocarp and mixed forests. Authorities have stepped up monitoring at forest entry points and announced forest closures, urging people collecting forest products to register to avoid suspicion.
Patrol plans have also been adjusted to focus on high-risk and repeat fire areas. Officials are calling on the public to help prevent forest fires and hope this year’s statistics will improve compared to last year.
Fuel management efforts, including controlled burns, are underway in key areas such as Omkoi Wildlife Sanctuary, Ob Luang National Park in Hod district, Ban Hong Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mae Ping National Park in Lamphun. These burns are conducted in small, controlled plots that can be extinguished before nightfall, particularly in areas prone to recurring fires.
The director added that fuel management will continue under the government’s existing plan, focusing only on high-risk and repeat fire zones, as weather conditions and air ventilation do not always allow wider implementation.
