Singapore chopper joins in effort to douse forest fires in North

[webfact]

Singapore chopper joins in effort to douse forest fires in North



BANGKOK: -- A Singaporean Chinook helicopter which took part in the COPE Tiger 2015 exercise in Thailand has joined the government’s effort to douse forest fires to ease haze which has blanketed several northern provinces and threatened the health of their residents.

Singapore’s help was in response to a request from Army Commander-in-Chief General Udomdej Seetabutr to combat the problem which seems to be getting worse. The army chief also ordered three more helicopters from the Third Army Region and a transport plane from the Royal Thai Air Force to help in the fire-fighting effort.

Colonel Sirichan Ngathong, deputy spokesperson of the army, said today that the problem of haze and forest fires in nine northern provinces namely Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Nan, Phrae, Mae Hong Son, Tak and Phayao remain serious and air quality in some of those provinces such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son is below standards.

She expressed hope that the additional aircraft would help ease the problem. However, she said that the fire-fighting effort should be complemented with ground operations and air surveillance to detect the fire spots, rain-making operations, the creation of fire guards and publicity campaign to educate rural inhabitants to refrain from clearing their farmland with fires or burning garbages.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/singapore-chopper-joins-in-effort-to-douse-forest-fires-in-north


-- Thai PBS 2015-03-18

[Fiddlesticks]

However, she said that the fire-fighting effort should be complemented with ground operations and air surveillance to detect the fire spots, rain-making operations, the creation of fire guards and publicity campaign to educate rural inhabitants to refrain from clearing their farmland with fires or burning garbages.

She went on to say that enforcing laws against burning would not be pursued because law enforcement in Thailand is something that is merely window dressing but no one really takes it seriously.

[Torrens54]

However, she said that the fire-fighting effort should be complemented with ground operations and air surveillance to detect the fire spots, rain-making operations, the creation of fire guards and publicity campaign to educate rural inhabitants to refrain from clearing their farmland with fires or burning garbages.

She went on to say that enforcing laws against burning would not be pursued because law enforcement in Thailand is something that is merely window dressing but no one really takes it seriously.

Boots On The Ground!

The Colonel is quite correct. Wonder if she can influence a certain alleged Commander In Chief in America that he needs to take the same action?

[webfact]

HAZE CRISIS
All-out efforts to fight smog
Nattawat Laping,
Panya Thiosangwan,
Ayuthai Nontirat,
The Nation



Singaporean air force joins mission as situation in northern provinces to worsen today; Army mobilising resources

CHIANG MAI: -- THAILAND mobilised all its resources yesterday to combat the haze crisis in the North, which threatens to be the worst in recent history, with air pollution in some parts of Chiang Ri province already three times beyond safety limits.

The situation has worsened to the point that several military aircraft, including two Chinooks from Singapore, are actively spraying the area with water in a bid to reduce the smog.

The Thai-Myanmar Joint Border Committee will convene a meeting in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district to discuss the smog problem today. The air pollution in this district stood at 280 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic metre of air yesterday. The particulate matter is less than less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10).

The amount of PM10 per cubic metre of air was also alarmingly high at 383mcg in Chiang Rai's Muang district between 7am and 9am yesterday.

The amount of PM10 should never exceed 120mcg per cubic metre of air.

"We are now seriously advising people to wear face masks when going outside," Chiang Rai's disaster-prevention-and-mitigation chief

Sawang Momdee said.

Thick smog reduced visibility on the road to just 500 metres, though it did not affect flight services to and from the province yesterday. Chiang Rai Airport has installed extra lighting on its runway to improve visibility.

The Pollution Control Department said the situation will worsen today due to overall weather conditions, adding that the amount of PM10 will most likely rise in all eight smog-hit provinces in the North by between 2 and 8 per cent.

Singaporean assistance

Apart from Chiang Rai, the provinces of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Nan, Lampang, Phrae and Uttaradit are also struggling with air pollution.

Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) spokesman ACM Monthon Satchukorn said yesterday that Singapore Air Force, which is taking part in Cope Tiger 2015 joint military exercises, will deploy its two Chinook helicopters to help Thailand deal with the smog and forest-fire problem. These helicopters will join the several that Thailand's armed forces have deployed for the mission.

In a Facebook post, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said, "It [the Chinooks] will be equipped with a 5,000-litre water bucket from the Singapore Civil Defence Force. Let's support our SAF men and women who are tasked for this mission - that they will do their job well and keep safe."

According to the Royal Thai Army (RTA) deputy spokesperson Colonel Sirichan Ngathong, relevant authorities are now mobilising resources to tackle the smog problem.

Haze was visible to the naked eye in Chiang Mai province yesterday, with many tourists complaining.

"I came up here to enjoy the views, but I can't see anything," Pares Inta, who was at the Phra That Doi Kham viewpoint in Chiang Mai, said.

Another tourist, Suprapa Chaykarn, said tourists usually headed to Chiang Mai in the hope of getting fresh air. "But the province is now covered with smog and pollution. That's why people are reluctant to visit Chiang Mai at the moment."

PM10 readings in Chiang Mai province hit 235mcg yesterday.

However, Lai-ad Bungsrithong, president of Thai Hotel Association Northern Chapter, said the heavy smog did not affect tourism in Chiang Mai much because many hotels are 70 to 75 per cent full - similar to the same period last year. She also said tourists had not cancelled bookings, though there has been a slight drop in new bookings.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/All-out-efforts-to-fight-smog-30256289.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-19

[NongKhaiKid]

" Thailand mobilised all it's resources to combat. .. "

Maybe they should be more proactive in trying to prevent the fires that are a major factor instead of waiting to tackle something out of control.

The Good News - the smog isn't affecting tourism, but there again nothing ever does.

[NeilSA1]

What a waste of man power, resources and money. Inefficient.

Reminds me of the phrase " farting against thunder".

The authorities have to take firm action against the fire burners.

[Thian]

Exactly!

Why not let some choppers chase the ones who make fires? Then it will be over very soon.

[khwaibah]

Just in.

[Oziex1]

"Thailand mobilised it's resources"

With a chopper from Singapore?

[Chao Lao Beach]

Look at the map,,,,,,,,, Nice clean air in Chanthaburi

[tomross46]

This is good training for the Singaporean Air Force. There are numerous Singaporean unit that are being trained. Singapore does not have the space or terrain difference to train their military. Thailand is graciously assisting another ASEAN nation.

[sweatalot]

THAILAND mobilised all its resources yesterday to combat the haze crisis in the North, which threatens to be the worst in recent history, with air pollution in some parts of Chiang Ri province already three times beyond safety limits.

after reading this I thought now they have the military (forget the Thai police) come out in full force to arrest all the arsonists

- which would be the appropriate action

[canopy]

Dear Singapore, your support is welcome. But unfortunately dropping water will not be an effective solution in either the short or long term. Think chain gun and door gunner.

[NongKhaiKid]

This is good training for the Singaporean Air Force. There are numerous Singaporean unit that are being trained. Singapore does not have the space or terrain difference to train their military. Thailand is graciously assisting another ASEAN nation.

In order to get training in flying over different terrain the Singapore Defence Force regularly uses Udon Thani airport which also houses Wing 24 of the RTAF and the govt repeatedly declines to comment on what the Singaporeans pay for the privilege. Edited March 19, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[angiolo]

What a lot of nonsense . Put out the fires,whats the problem ?