The Commander of the Third Army Area has launched a comprehensive policy drive across 17 northern provinces to prepare for forest fires, haze and fine particulate pollution (PM2.5), mobilising personnel, equipment and aircraft to support effective on-the-ground operations and reduce public health impacts.
On 9th January 2026, at the 7th Infantry Division in Mae Rim district, Chiang Mai, Lt Gen Worathep Boonnya, Commander of the Third Army Area, chaired a policy briefing meeting on preparedness for forest fires, haze and PM2.5 affecting the 17 northern provinces.
The meeting brought together Third Army Area units, governors from all 17 provinces, agencies under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and related organisations. The emphasis was on integrated operations, combining manpower, equipment and cross-sector coordination to ensure systematic and timely prevention and mitigation.
The meeting agreed on five key operational pillars:
- Force and resource readiness
- Situation monitoring and surveillance
- Integrated area-level command and control
- Support for high-risk areas
- Assistance for citizens affected by health impacts
A Third Army Area Forest Fire, Haze and PM2.5 Operations Centre has been established at the 7th Infantry Division to serve as the central hub for coordination, planning, command, control and wildfire suppression. The centre will cover all 17 provinces, including border areas between provinces, integrating budgets, personnel, equipment, tools, vehicles and aircraft in a systematic manner. Continuous monitoring, assessment and reporting will be made to the national air pollution management committee.
The occasion also included inspections of personnel readiness, equipment and aircraft.
For this year, 12 major forest complexes have been designated as priority surveillance areas across the 17 provinces. Targets include:
- Reducing hotspots by 25%, to no more than 6,379 points
- Cutting burned areas by 25%, to no more than 622,296 rai
- Reducing days with PM2.5 levels above the standard by 20%, to no more than 64 days
- Lowering the number of COPD patients by 20%
Authorities will also step up public awareness campaigns on the impacts of forest fires and haze across all sectors, aiming for more effective and sustainable air pollution management.
