Is it legal to make bonfires in thailand ?

[popje]

I searched on google and really couldn't find anything, even made a search in thailand laws and nothing.

I am going with my friends and we really like to make bonfires, we are not stupid, we are not going to make bonfire in the middle of the street, in a crowded area or anywhere that could be dangerous. Let's say we are in koh samui alone at the beach, is it legal to make a bonfire there ? Anyone who made one, what kind of wood should I use, can I buy any ?

[Crazy chef 1]

Think it must be...there is a huge one every year in the Chiangmai area ...

[popje]

Think it must be...there is a huge one every year in the Chiangmai area ...

Where I live there are huge bonfires every year for an holiday, but it is highly illegal to start a fire anywhere especially in a public place like a beach, we do it anyway but thats not the point, even in your own courtyard it is illegal, it is only legal in rural areas but still very restricted, like you can't make bonfires in certain area, at x meters of a forest or a public area and you can't make bonfires if it haven't rained for x days.

Edited May 26, 2015 by popje

[Soutpeel]

Has primary school term ended already ?

[popje]

Has primary school term ended already ?

What is wrong with people on this forum, I made 2 threads with very legitimate questions and 2 out of 4 answers I got are sarcastic and insulting, sorry if english is not my main language.....

[Pormax]

I don't know the actual law but in rural areas there are small bonfires every night in villages where they gather all the rubbish that has been dropped or thrown on the floor for a week or so, then burnt.

A lot of villages that do not have a special building in the temple for cremation build a bonfire (funeral pyre) to burn the deceased. This could be in the temple grounds or on the families own property if they have a large area of land where their house stands.

There again if there are laws, if you are Thai, then you can ignore. I would not suggest you try it if you are a Farang.

[popje]

I don't know the actual law but in rural areas there are small bonfires every night in villages where they gather all the rubbish that has been dropped or thrown on the floor for a week or so, then burnt.

A lot of villages that do not have a special building in the temple for cremation build a bonfire (funeral pyre) to burn the deceased. This could be in the temple grounds or on the families own property if they have a large area of land where their house stands.

There again if there are laws, if you are Thai, then you can ignore. I would not suggest you try it if you are a Farang.

Thanks, I guess I'll see when I get there.

[Tonto21]

Are bonfires illegal in Thailand, yes if you just want to burn your rubbish or dance around it..... Or use one as a surrogate TV, (that's television not Thaivisa) as so many Thais do.

The local government, especially Chiang Mai have made some effort to reduce fires being used to burn of household rubbish, I think it was about two years ago regular bin collections started, 1 per week, (Mae Taeng) cost....30 Baht a month.

I used to think it was all about local fires around Chiangmai, mushroom farmers and the like......But it is not that simple, the smog comes from bordering country and Chingmai province sits in a big bowl, if the wind is in the wrong direction...........we get it all.

Can you light a bonfire, OP regardless if the location in Thailand allows bonfires or not................. You run the risk of getting fined, if you get my drift.

[popje]

Are bonfires illegal in Thailand, yes if you just want to burn your rubbish or dance around it..... Or use one as a surrogate TV, (that's television not Thaivisa) as so many Thais do.

The local government, especially Chiang Mai have made some effort to reduce fires being used to burn of household rubbish, I think it was about two years ago regular bin collections started, 1 per week, (Mae Taeng) cost....30 Baht a month.

I used to think it was all about local fires around Chiangmai, mushroom farmers and the like......But it is not that simple, the smog comes from bordering country and Chingmai province sits in a big bowl, if the wind is in the wrong direction...........we get it all.

Can you light a bonfire, OP regardless if the location in Thailand allows bonfires or not................. You run the risk of getting fined, if you get my drift.

Thanks, yeah, I don't want to burn rubbish lol, I love to drink beer around a fire with my friends and cook hotdogs on the fire, stuff like that, depending what the fine is, I might do it anyway, I'll see when I get there, I just find it strange that there is no official law about bonfires.

[malt25]

"Anyone who made one, what kind of wood should I use, can I buy any ?" If you & friends are bonfire addicts I wood have thought you wood know the answer to these questions." Wood", pun definitely intended.

But, if you are unsure....... Pine, soft wood burns too quickly. Wet wood is very difficult to light.

Why not buy a bag of charcoal ? If questioned by the authorities tell them it's a cooking fire, not a bonfire. Just a thought.

"What is wrong with people on this forum, I made 2 threads with very legitimate questions and 2 out of 4 answers I got are sarcastic and insulting, sorry if english is not my main language....." Lighten up, ol mate.....yeah, another pun, sorry. Don't you think it wood have been better to ask locals about open fires ? If you intend playing on this forum, better get use to sarcasm & insults. Lots of times you are gunna get flamed, especially if it's a hot topic.

Anyway, welcome aboard. All newbies usually start as a flicker & soon turn into a blazing inferno.

Cheers..... Mal.

[JLCrab]

From OP Post #1: ... we are not stupid ... Thanks -- that's very reassuring.

[popje]

"Anyone who made one, what kind of wood should I use, can I buy any ?" If you & friends are bonfire addicts I wood have thought you wood know the answer to these questions." Wood", pun definitely intended.

But, if you are unsure....... Pine, soft wood burns too quickly. Wet wood is very difficult to light.

Why not buy a bag of charcoal ? If questioned by the authorities tell them it's a cooking fire, not a bonfire. Just a thought.

"What is wrong with people on this forum, I made 2 threads with very legitimate questions and 2 out of 4 answers I got are sarcastic and insulting, sorry if english is not my main language....." Lighten up, ol mate.....yeah, another pun, sorry. Don't you think it wood have been better to ask locals about open fires ? If you intend playing on this forum, better get use to sarcasm & insults. Lots of times you are gunna get flamed, especially if it's a hot topic.

Anyway, welcome aboard. All newbies usually start as a flicker & soon turn into a blazing inferno.

Cheers..... Mal.

Reason I asked here and not a local is because I am not in thailand yet and also because I was surprised I couldn't find anything on google about it, I was really just wondering, making bonfires and drinking beer with my friends is one of our favorite activity and it doesn't cost anything, except the beer of course. Thanks for the advice, I'll make sure to bring some food and if I get questioned by the authorities I'll tell them its a cooking fire. As for the kind of wood, I live in canada, we don't have the same kind of trees here, looking at google map it looks like koh samui (the first island I'll be on) is mostly palm trees, I don't know how well that burn and if there a lot of dead ones on the ground, anyway, thanks for your post, your puns actually made me laugh.

Edited May 27, 2015 by popje

[Daffy D]

Don't know about the legalities of bonfires.

Many years ago when I was living on one of the islands occasionally some people would want a bonfire on the beach just to sit round and chill out.

The only concern from resort owners was to have it below the tide line so the next tide would wash the remains away and keep the beach clean.

Oh! Just thought, keep away from grass roofed bungalow and huts, they tend to get a bit nervous about fires.

Edited May 27, 2015 by Daffy D

[pigeonjake]

Think it must be...there is a huge one every year in the Chiangmai area ...

Where I live there are huge bonfires every year for an holiday, but it is highly illegal to start a fire anywhere especially in a public place like a beach, we do it anyway but thats not the point, even in your own courtyard it is illegal, it is only legal in rural areas but still very restricted, like you can't make bonfires in certain area, at x meters of a forest or a public area and you can't make bonfires if it haven't rained for x days.

in this post you state,!

Where I live there are huge bonfires every year for an holiday, but it is highly illegal to start a fire anywhere especially in a public place like a beach,we do it anyway

so it looks like you will do it anyway, so why ask,?

[Tonto21]

Are bonfires illegal in Thailand, yes if you just want to burn your rubbish or dance around it..... Or use one as a surrogate TV, (that's television not Thaivisa) as so many Thais do.

The local government, especially Chiang Mai have made some effort to reduce fires being used to burn of household rubbish, I think it was about two years ago regular bin collections started, 1 per week, (Mae Taeng) cost....30 Baht a month.

I used to think it was all about local fires around Chiangmai, mushroom farmers and the like......But it is not that simple, the smog comes from bordering country and Chingmai province sits in a big bowl, if the wind is in the wrong direction...........we get it all.

Can you light a bonfire, OP regardless if the location in Thailand allows bonfires or not................. You run the risk of getting fined, if you get my drift.

Thanks, yeah, I don't want to burn rubbish lol, I love to drink beer around a fire with my friends and cook hotdogs on the fire, stuff like that, depending what the fine is, I might do it anyway, I'll see when I get there, I just find it strange that there is no official law about bonfires.

Hey 'popje'.... I went on a bit, I know.....But I think I had you covered with the 'Dance around it' comment... Lol

Edited May 27, 2015 by Tonto21

[popje]

Think it must be...there is a huge one every year in the Chiangmai area ...

Where I live there are huge bonfires every year for an holiday, but it is highly illegal to start a fire anywhere especially in a public place like a beach, we do it anyway but thats not the point, even in your own courtyard it is illegal, it is only legal in rural areas but still very restricted, like you can't make bonfires in certain area, at x meters of a forest or a public area and you can't make bonfires if it haven't rained for x days.

in this post you state,!

Where I live there are huge bonfires every year for an holiday, but it is highly illegal to start a fire anywhere especially in a public place like a beach,we do it anyway

so it looks like you will do it anyway, so why ask,?

I don't mind being in trouble in my country, first I know exactly what will happen and I know good spots for not getting caught, I never got caught, yet. But when I am a tourist in another country, I don't want any trouble and have no idea what the laws are regarding bonfires, I heard I can get in jail for smoking a joint, or simply threaten to pay a very big amount of money by corrupt cops, at least that's what I heard, so I'd rather ask on a forum and not take any chances of getting in any kind of trouble for something as dumb as a bonfire.

[popje]

Don't know about the legalities of bonfires.

Many years ago when I was living on one of the islands occasionally some people would want a bonfire on the beach just to sit round and chill out.

The only concern from resort owners was to have it below the tide line so the next tide would wash the remains away and keep the beach clean.

Oh! Just thought, keep away from grass roofed bungalow and huts, they tend to get a bit nervous about fires.

Good, thanks, yeah the first house I'll be in koh samui is very close to one of the less populated beach, I looked on google map and found a good spot like 100 meters away from any house, bungalows, huts or resorts.

[JLCrab]

From Criminal Code of Thailand:

Section 220 Whoever, cause fire to any material even belonging to himself in a manner likely to cause injury to the other person or a thing belonging to the other person, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding seven years and fined not exceeding fourteen thousand Baht.

Operative word: 'likely'

[popje]

Are bonfires illegal in Thailand, yes if you just want to burn your rubbish or dance around it..... Or use one as a surrogate TV, (that's television not Thaivisa) as so many Thais do.

The local government, especially Chiang Mai have made some effort to reduce fires being used to burn of household rubbish, I think it was about two years ago regular bin collections started, 1 per week, (Mae Taeng) cost....30 Baht a month.

I used to think it was all about local fires around Chiangmai, mushroom farmers and the like......But it is not that simple, the smog comes from bordering country and Chingmai province sits in a big bowl, if the wind is in the wrong direction...........we get it all.

Can you light a bonfire, OP regardless if the location in Thailand allows bonfires or not................. You run the risk of getting fined, if you get my drift.

Thanks, yeah, I don't want to burn rubbish lol, I love to drink beer around a fire with my friends and cook hotdogs on the fire, stuff like that, depending what the fine is, I might do it anyway, I'll see when I get there, I just find it strange that there is no official law about bonfires.

Hey 'popje'.... I went on a bit, I know.....But I think I had you covered with the 'Dance around it' comment... Lol

*Cooking fires, we will make cooking fires, we might dance a bit around it, but only for cooking purposes

[popje]

From Criminal Code of Thailand:

Section 220 Whoever, cause fire to any material even belonging to himself in a manner likely to cause injury to the other person or a thing belonging to the other person, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding seven years and fined not exceeding fourteen thousand Baht.

Operative word: 'likely'

I don't like that word, 100 meter away from any human and houses doesn't seem likely to cause injury to me, but some dirty cop may say otherwise.

[JLCrab]

From Criminal Code of Thailand:

Section 220 Whoever, cause fire to any material even belonging to himself in a manner likely to cause injury to the other person or a thing belonging to the other person, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding seven years and fined not exceeding fourteen thousand Baht.

Operative word: 'likely'

I don't like that word, 100 meter away from any human and houses doesn't seem likely to cause injury to me, but some dirty cop may say otherwise.

You would IMHO be playing games with the wrong set of people. It is more likely to cause damage than if there were no fire.

[HeijoshinCool]

Based on the substantial number of fires started every day around dinner time in Rhek Thum, I would have thought it was illegal not to have a fire.

Especially ones with plastic bottles, fluorescent light tubes, batteries, car bumpers, and soiled baby diapers.

[popje]

Based on the substantial number of fires started every day around dinner time in Rhek Thum, I would have thought it was illegal not to have a fire.

Especially ones with plastic bottles, fluorescent light tubes, batteries, car bumpers, and soiled baby diapers.

Was curious and tried to find that Rhek Thum place, couldn't find anything, but now I feel dumb, is that a play on words ?

[Gecko123]

OP:

You ever hear of global warming?

[popje]

OP:

You ever hear of global warming?

No, never, is it some kind of high temperature weather than could affect my bonfires ? Like make them dangerous or something ?

[Gecko123]

OP:

You ever hear of global warming?

No, never, is it some kind of high temperature weather than could affect my bonfires ? Like make them dangerous or something ?

No, it's a phenomena where carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels and wood get trapped in the earth's atmosphere which acts like a blanket, and causes the planet to heat up.

It's blamed for things like melting glaciers and ice caps, extreme weather, rising sea levels, population displacement, crop failure, famines, etc.

I've enjoyed a bonfire or two in my lifetime as well, but nowadays I would question how viable a form of recreation it is from an ecological standpoint.

[krisb]

Just be careful. If it sets anything else on fire you're in the Crap then.

[popje]

OP:

You ever hear of global warming?

No, never, is it some kind of high temperature weather than could affect my bonfires ? Like make them dangerous or something ?

No, it's a phenomena where carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels and wood get trapped in the earth's atmosphere which acts like a blanket, and causes the planet to heat up.

It's blamed for things like melting glaciers and ice caps, extreme weather, rising sea levels, population displacement, crop failure, famines, etc.

I've enjoyed a bonfire or two in my lifetime as well, but nowadays I would question how viable a form of recreation it is from an ecological standpoint.

I was being sarcastic..

[willyumiii]

I would not rely on advice from a bunch of grumpy, old, sarcastic, and critical expats who have no real knowledge of Thai law for advice.

Why not stop by the local police station and ask them, or call the police in the area you want to have your bonfire?

Maybe there is a permit you can get to cover your butt?

Maybe it will cost a couple of hundred baht to get it?

Seriously, I would not ask the TV ( Thai Viscous ) gang for advice about Thai laws!

They can tell you how they think the laws should be, or how the laws are "where they come from",, but probably no accurate information on what the laws are in Thailand.

Good luck!

[willyumiii]

OP:

You ever hear of global warming?

No, never, is it some kind of high temperature weather than could affect my bonfires ? Like make them dangerous or something ?

No, it's a phenomena where carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels and wood get trapped in the earth's atmosphere which acts like a blanket, and causes the planet to heat up.

It's blamed for things like melting glaciers and ice caps, extreme weather, rising sea levels, population displacement, crop failure, famines, etc.

I've enjoyed a bonfire or two in my lifetime as well, but nowadays I would question how viable a form of recreation it is from an ecological standpoint.

I was being sarcastic..

Decomposing wood and organic matter release the same amount of Co2 into the atmosphere as the same material will release when it is burned.

Burning just releases it faster.

Science rules..