Over 300 rai of national park was damaged in a wildfire that swept across the tinder dry park in the early afternoon of May 8, 2016. Firefighters, aided by the Army, worked until past 2 a.m. to get the fire under control.
The fire broke out in a remote forested area near Ban Khun, Chang Khian in the National Park. Social media was filled with photos of the fire that was visible in downtown Chiang Mai. Firefighters were brought in from local administration offices from around the region with over twenty fire trucks rushing in to help the beleaguered local firefighters.
Soldiers from the 33rd Military Circle were brought in to help beat back the fire and worked alongside firefighters, officers from the National Park, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Center in Area 10, Lampang, the Chiang Mai Office of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Center, and local people who joined in to create fire breaks. Fire breaks were hastily put in place behind the Chang Khian Boy Scouts Camp and the forest around Suan Buddha Dhamma Nong Hor behind the Chiang Mai International Convention Center. Flames were visible from the Convention Center as worried residents monitored the fire and prepared for a possible evacuation.
Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control around 2 a.m. on May 9, and officers continued to patrol the area to monitor for hot spots. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Bhubing Palace were never in danger from the fire which was North of these two important icons of Chiang Mai.
Locals pitched in to help, bringing food and water to support the firefighters in the middle of the night, offering their gratitude for the efforts of the firefighters, soldiers and other people in getting the wildfire under control.
Firefighters continue to patrol the area and a helicopter was brought in during the daylight hours to drop water on areas that appeared to still be at risk. Officers speculate the fire may have been started by people searching for forest products.
Wildlife in the burned out forest was devastated, however a firefighter found three newborn squirrels that managed to survive the fire and they were taken to the Chiang Mai Zoo to be nursed back to health and raised in the Zoo.
Residents posted on social media expressing anger and concern that despite the sustained high temperatures and drought that there was still burning and in an area that put so many homes and lives at risk.
Local people banded together to show support for firefighters and donations of food, drinks and water were brought to the command center.
Credit Picture
-CM 108
-Nipon Suwanaragsri