A volunteer firefighter, Boonma Phadaeng, aged 56, was found dead while combating forest fires in Ban Saluang, Thailand. He had been reported missing on March 31, prompting a large-scale search involving about 200 local officials, volunteers, and villagers. Boonma was discovered unconscious near the fire site, and authorities suspect heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation as the cause of death, noting his pre-existing hypertension.

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The incident highlights the severity of the forest fire situation in northern Thailand, where Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has authorized provincial governors to declare disaster zones. Fires continue to ravage several provinces, amplifying PM2.5 pollution levels. The government has deployed resources, including an MI-17 helicopter, to assist with firefighting efforts in Chiang Mai. Current pollution levels significantly exceed safe thresholds, with the highest PM2.5 readings recorded in Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai.

The fires have impacted the Golden Triangle region, where thick smoke has reduced visibility, affecting areas along the Mekong River and the Mae Sai district. The prime minister instructed the minister of natural resources and the director general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to oversee containment efforts. More than 700 fire hotspots were detected in northern provinces, exacerbating air pollution concerns.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Thai PBS · 02 Apr 2026

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My condolences to Boonma’s family and all who knew him. His passing is a reminder of the enormous risks volunteer firefighters take, not just in Thailand but everywhere.

Volunteers step forward to protect their communities with little recognition and often with limited resources, yet their contribution is invaluable.

May he rest in peace.