Five separate wildfires broke out within Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, with flames advancing towards the front of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and the octagonal pavilion to the east — a meditation retreat used by foreign practitioners. The Conservation Area Administration Office Region 16 mounted an urgent response, mobilising more than 100 personnel drawn from the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park unit, Phu Ping Fire Control Station, Pha Lat firefighting team, the Hawk Fire squad, soldiers from the 33rd Military Circle, and villagers from Doi Suthep and Ban Hmong Doi Pui.
Two helicopters were deployed in aerial support. A Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment aircraft conducted water drops in the morning to suppress fires in the higher terrain, followed in the afternoon by a Kamov Ka-32 operated by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, which joined the operation to reinforce ground crews and prevent the blaze from reaching critical areas of the city.
The fires broke out nearly 500 metres from the temple. Villagers reported that firebreaks had been under construction the previous day but remained incomplete in one section — an area known as Pha Phueng, where large beehives made access impossible. The fire subsequently ignited at that gap.
As of the latest update, the situation has been brought under control, with only scorched fire lines remaining. Crews continue to maintain watch to prevent any re-ignition.
