On the front line with the Chiang Mai firefighters battling the flames behind the world's worst air

By Pichayada Promchertchoo @Pichayada CNA

 

A fire fighter tries to put out a forest fire in Samoeng district in western Chiang Mai, north of Thailand, where unhealthy levels of air pollution have been reported. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)

 

SAMOENG, Thailand: Under a shroud of thick, black smoke, the hill is ablaze. 

 

Men in red uniforms snake through a burning forest in single file, searching for the source of the ferocious fire that has engulfed a large part of the hill in Samoeng district of western Chiang Mai – a northern Thai province that recently reported the worst air quality in the world.

 

 

“It’s more severe than previous years because the fuel – all the dry leaves and plants – had accumulated for a few years without burning. This year is dry. There is no rain and little humidity. So when the fuel ignites, it’s harder to control,” said Amphon Kanchan from the Khun Kan-Samoeng forest fire station.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/thailand-chiang-mai-fire-worlds-worst-air-pollution-11417294 

 

-- Channel News Asia 2019-2019-04-10
 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“It’s more severe than previous years because the fuel – all the dry leaves and plants – had accumulated for a few years without burning. This year is dry. There is no rain and little humidity. So when the fuel ignites, it’s harder to control,” said Amphon Kanchan from the Khun Kan-Samoeng forest fire station.

So no-one had the forethought of creating/cutting firebreaks?

37 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

So no-one had the forethought of creating/cutting firebreaks?

Why cut a fire break when you have no fire you maybe wasteing your time as you do not know where the fire will break out

37 minutes ago, moe666 said:

Why cut a fire break when you have no fire you maybe wasteing your time as you do not know where the fire will break out

Prevention is better than cure, they know where the vulnerable areas are and could easily cut the firebreaks to minimize the spread before a fire does break out/ is lit. Too late to do it when it’s already alight.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

So no-one had the forethought of creating/cutting firebreaks?

I wonder if they used that argument to build the judges houses on the sacred mountain or just plain old corruption????

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

So no-one had the forethought of creating/cutting firebreaks?

What?

Firebreaks?

What's that?

5 hours ago, Classic Ray said:

 

 

6 hours ago, moe666 said:

Why cut a fire break when you have no fire you maybe wasteing your time as you do not know where the fire will break out

 

My friend's wife was given a Thai restaurant from him but keeps it closed:

He asked her why she closes the shop. Answer: "Nobody will come anyway."

Ofcourse, you silly cow, when your restaurant is closed you can bet nobody is coming anyway.

 

The fire came anyway...

 

6 hours ago, hotchilli said:

So no-one had the forethought of creating/cutting firebreaks?

 

Forethoughts ?  Who, Somchai ?