Wildfire at Khao Krathing extinguished after two-day battle
A fire that blazed through Khao Krathing has finally been extinguished after a two-day battle. The cause was identified as human activity, not natural causes, with individuals secretly laying pipes up the mountain.
The blaze erupted at 7.30pm on January 17 in the forest area along the Khao Krathing range, Mueang 6, within the jurisdiction of the Kled Kaew Subdistrict Municipality, Sattahip district, Chon Buri province. The fire spread extensively without showing signs of abating.
Relevant agencies promptly arrived on the scene, coordinating fire trucks to contain the blaze and protect nearby residential areas.
Doctor Chaloemchai Sri-on, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, dispatched a helicopter to aid the effort, focusing on the challenging terrain of Khao Krathing. Additionally, 40 forestry officers were deployed to establish firebreaks urgently, beginning on January 18.
By yesterday, January 19, Anusak Piriyamorn, the district chief of Sattahip, followed the situation personally, joined by Thanyaphat Akaraputtathip, Deputy Mayor of Kled Kaew, along with naval officers, forestry personnel from Chon Buri, and other local agencies.
A wildfire command centre was established to manage the situation efficiently. Yesterday, a naval helicopter conducted eight sorties to combat the fire, while the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s helicopter performed 31 water-drop missions over two days, reported KhaoSod.
Forestry officers and other units battled the fire on foot. By this afternoon, helicopter surveys revealed no visible smoke or flames. However, foot patrols discovered that the fire’s origin on the mountain peak was due to flames spreading along pipes, which had been illicitly laid up the mountain, acting as a conduit for the fire across the range.
In related news, forest fires on Khao Loi mountain in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima, have been extinguished after burning for eight days. Officials suspect the fires were initiated to facilitate a wildlife hunt.
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