Forest fires in Thailand increase dangerous PM2.5 levels

[webfact]

Forest fires in the northern provinces of Thailand have sparked an increase in atmospheric PM2.5 levels, leading to a stern warning from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The department stated yesterday that severe legal consequences will be faced by those who illicitly ignite fires in forest lands.

 

Department chief Athapol Charoenshunsa unveiled that they have recently forbidden access to 11 conservation forest zones and 10 national reserved forest areas in the northern provinces. The move was prompted by the potential risk of forest fires and poaching activities by those entering these regions.

 

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, who is participating in a mobile cabinet assembly in Phayao today, has also ordered the department to intensify efforts to curb forest fires. These fires have culminated in dangerously high PM2.5 levels in the northern region.

 

Highlighting the department’s escalated plan to subdue forest fires and strictly impose the entry prohibition, Athapol stated that the villagers residing near each forest in the north would collaborate closely with the department staff. This cooperation aims to gather information on suspected trespassers in forest lands, enabling their capture and arrest.

The department plans to establish special watch regions to shield them from the potential devastation of artificial forest fires. This will involve dispatching additional patrols as a preventive measure. Firefighting teams will also be on standby to respond to any instances of forest burning, and the number of checkpoints will be increased to prevent unauthorised entry.

 

In the previous year, the department recorded 7,136 hotspots in Chiang Rai province, in contrast to the 1,294 hotspots identified from October last year to March 17. Despite the reduced number of hotspots in the province, the haze in the northern region remains a serious issue due to burning activities in neighbouring provinces and countries, reported Bangkok Post.

 

by Mitch Connor

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-03-19

 

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[webfact]

Smokin’ setback: Forest fires force Bangkok Airways flight cancellations
by Petch Petpailin 

 

Photo via SiamRath

Bangkok Airways had to cancel six flights at Mae Hong Son Airport this month due to smoke arising from widespread forest fires in the province.

 

Bangkok Airways yesterday, March 18, cancelled flight PG 205, which runs from Bangkok to Lampang and then Mae Hong Son because the thick smoke affected the pilots’ visibility. Chiang Mai News reported that the flight had been cancelled six times since the beginning of March due to the ongoing forest fire situation.

 

According to the media, the cancellation affected tourism and businesses, not only in Mae Hong Son but also in Lampang, as this flight route is connected.

 

Naewna reported yesterday that 277 hotspots were discovered in Mae Hong Son, indicating that the forest fire situation in the province remains concerning.

The concentration of dust particles smaller than 2.5 microns was measured at 294 microgrammes per cubic metre, exceeding the standard value by seven times. This marked the highest recorded amount among the northern provinces of Thailand.

 

A firefighting team from the southern province of Nakhon Si Thamarat was dispatched to assist the team in Mae Hong Son. Most of the forest fires were situated on high mountains, making them challenging to discern and leading to heightened levels of smoke and dust.

 

The director of the Srisangwan Hospital in Mae Hong Son, Somsak Uthaipibun, told SiamRath that he and other medical workers distributed free face masks to patients and their families at the hospital yesterday because the forest fire situation this year was worse.

 

Somsak reported that many patients sought treatment for respiratory illness and skin allergies due to forest fires. He added that eight patients with critical conditions at the hospital are suffering from respiratory illness and pneumonia.

 

Multiple forest fires were also reported in Chiang Mai and other provinces in northern Thailand. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently visited Chiang Mai to discuss solutions to the forest fires and PM 2.5 pollution issues.

 

The PM offered two million face masks to firefighters in the province as a token of appreciation for their dedication to firefighting missions and urged relevant departments to provide proper welfare to the teams.

 

Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat also travelled to Chiang Mai and joined the firefighting team to help control the forest fires in the Mae Wang district of the province on March 17.

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-19

 

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[nglodnig]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

severe legal consequences will be faced by those who illicitly ignite fires

 

The gloves are off now.

 

"Forest fires in Thailand increase dangerous PM2.5 levels"

 

Who'd a -thunk it?

 

Some amazing revelations in this artcile. Good to see the authroities are on top of this

[edwinchester]

"....leading to a stern warning from the Department of National Parks"

 

My God, only a severe warning left.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Forest fires in the northern provinces of Thailand have sparked an increase in atmospheric PM2.5 levels, leading to a stern warning from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The department stated yesterday that severe legal consequences will be faced by those who illicitly ignite fires in forest lands.

Another year of no change.... but then did we really expect anything different?

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, edwinchester said:

"....leading to a stern warning from the Department of National Parks"

 

My God, only a severe warning left.

After a stern warning, then a 2nd warning then a small fine

[happysoul]

"The concentration of dust particles smaller than 2.5 microns was measured at 294 microgrammes per cubic metre, exceeding the standard value by seven times. This marked the highest recorded amount among the northern provinces of Thailand."

 

No, it's not 7 times but 12 times the WHO value for 24 hours and 30 times the WHO annual value. But as those numbers are never achieved in Asia, they put the limit higher. Now, believe the WHO or Asian governments, up to you naaa krap !

 

Reference : https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/what-are-the-who-air-quality-guidelines

 

Edit : It's based on the 2005 values, worst if taken the 2021 ones.

Edited March 19 by happysoul