Mae Hong Son battles wildfires and hazardous smoke levels
In Mae Hong Son, ongoing wildfires continue to affect the area as provincial efforts intensify to combat the smoke and haze. Yesterday, April 1, the governor took a helicopter to survey and identify hotspots for ground teams to extinguish while efforts were made to reduce pollution levels.
At 9am yesterday, April 1, at the helipad of the Natural Resources and Environment Office in Mae Hong Son, Ekawit Meephian, the governor, boarded a helicopter from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
This mission involved patrolling and identifying burn sites around Mae Hong Son city for ground operations to effectively control and extinguish the wildfires. Joining the aerial patrol was Mallika Jeenakhum, the mayor of Mae Hong Son, along with representatives from the provincial public relations office.
The governor stated that the measures to prevent and address the issues of wildfires, haze, and dust in the province have been enhanced. Despite these efforts, numerous hotspots persist around Mae Hong Son city, contributing to smoke infiltrating the city.
The helicopter patrol aimed to survey and pinpoint these hotspots to inform ground teams for intervention, in line with directives to elevate wildfire prevention and resolution measures. The helicopter support for this mission came from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and ran from March 30 to April 2.
The provincial wildfire prevention and resolution centre reported on April 1 that 526 hotspots were detected on March 31. Since January 1, there have been 5,190 cumulative hotspots.
Air quality on April 1 showed PM2.5 levels at 202.7 microgrammes per cubic metre in Mueang district, 99.7 in Mae Sariang district, and 118.9 in Pai district, all of which are considered harmful to health.
Additionally, the Mae Hong Son Meteorological Office reported visibility at 3km at 1pm, indicating dense smoke in Mae Hong Son city.
In response, the municipal officials in Mae Hong Son are deploying fire trucks to spray water at Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, aiming to continually reduce airborne dust levels, reported KhaoSod.
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