Forest fire hikes PM2.5 in Chiang Mai

By The Nation

 

 

Some 200 firefighters were struggling on a mountain slope on Wednesday (March 18) to extinguish a forest fire that was pouring yet more hazardous PM2.5 dust particles on the people of Chiang Mai.

 

A Natural Resources Ministry helicopter was called in to drop water on the blaze, making 30 passes in all.

 

With 10 water tankers also engaged, it still took five hours to bring the fire under control.

 

It’s believed the inferno began as a small fire set by someone seeking out edible plants in the undergrowth.

 

The PM2.5 level in the North ranged from 37-189 micrograms per cubic metre on Wednesday, with 50mcg the safe limit recognised in Thailand.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384424

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-19

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Hmmm, pm2.5 was over 300 this morning in the Hangdong area. 

1 hour ago, Dellboy218 said:

Hmmm, pm2.5 was over 300 this morning in the Hangdong area. 

And again early afternoon but down to around 200 by 5pm.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

It’s believed the inferno began as a small fire set by someone seeking out edible plants in the undergrowth.

Some people will never learn ... they should be held responsible for the damage they caused .

Number ONE .  World Champion again!

Congratulations!
 

If you would ask Anutin, the Clown-in-Chief of the Health Ministry, he would reply that it was the foul, fire-hazardous old fart of a dirty farang. 

Chiang Mai number 1, the CNX Governor should be so proud. Where are all the N95 masks, they are badly needed for people in the North. Those cloth masks that the Govt. keep harping on about are useless against particle pollution...

 

There was blatant fire burning at Mae Kampong to burn off the road side growth. They don’t use weed killers or mowing. Apathy is the problem. I presume those doing all that burning were actually government employees. Quite sad they don’t respect the health of the vast majority, esp children and the elderly. 

yeah those  bloody  forests, why dont they cut  them all down, thank goodness theres  no other causes

23 minutes ago, Forza2002 said:

Those cloth masks that the Govt. keep harping on about are useless against particle pollution...

bit like the govt  then,  but at least the mask are disposable

15 minutes ago, Brickbat said:

There was blatant fire burning at Mae Kampong to burn off the road side growth. They don’t use weed killers or mowing. Apathy is the problem. I presume those doing all that burning were actually government employees. Quite sad they don’t respect the health of the vast majority, esp children and the elderly. 

also over the mtn to chai prakon they are burning the road side and other areas ...  

they dont care the covid is the distraction they need to keep burning 

Bad air everywhere in CNX today...

I just don;t see how Covid-19 can survive under these conditions.

The long term solution to the toxic deforestation burning is continuous education/understanding at secondary school level and beyond - once the schools are reopened. Ensure the next generation are committed to saving their environment by enabling alternative ways to burning crops - and later, forests for mushrooms. 

 

Environmental alternatives, including financial support, e.g. tractors, must also be reinforced at local government level by continuous TV messaging, including fines and imprisonment of these freaking boneheads - nothing else would suffice, IMO.

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

It’s believed the inferno began as a small fire set by someone seeking out edible plants in the undergrowth.

Time the governor got his place in order!

• Education in Thailand?  Don't be daft, man.  Schools here teach 'acceptance of authority' and following your prescribed road to life's end. 

This is BS. There are no natural forests of any consequence. They have been logged over many times since. You have underbrush and vegetation which the cultivators want to burn as it is the most economical way to clear unwanted vegetation for crop production or agriculture including sugar can and corn. WE all know this now!!

Just thinking - COVID kills those with lung problems the easiest it seems from stats from Italy and China. How is the haze helping? Or are these farmers helping wiping out the population in the North? In such case as rude as this sounds, I wish them a taste of their own medicine. They are putting millions of others in significant additional risks through their complete ignorance.

4 hours ago, stephenterry said:

Ensure the next generation are committed to saving their environment by enabling alternative ways to burning crops

You're so right.

It's one task of so many.

And we shouldn't forget the next generation in Shan State or Laos PDR and ...

 

      Not heard of a single farmer being fined for the fires on their land, just a single case of a little old lady burning her household rubbish in her back garden. Plod didn't have to travel too far catch her. Is that the best they can do to prevent PM2.5 ?????????????

Just when we already have virus pandemic, they do this to worsen things.