Helicopter douses Phetchabun blaze, but fire still reignites

2026-02-24 - 03:13

PETCHABUN — 24 February 2026, A wildfire in Phetchabun province was largely brought under control after water-bombing operations by helicopter, but flared up again later, officials said. On 23 February, Seksan Tiangphlab, head of Khao Kho National Park, joined operations with the Central Regional Operations Centre of the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment to urgently tackle wildfires and haze affecting residents in Khao Kho district. Authorities coordinated with several local agencies, including the Phetchabun Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, Forest Protection Unit Por Chor 8 (Nam Duea) under the Royal Forest Department, the Phetchabun Internal Security Operations Command and the Phetchabun Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office. A planning meeting was held at the 1st Infantry Division’s Phokhun Pha Muang Camp. Helicopter taking water to drop on the fire. An aerial survey identified fire hotspots in Huai Yai forest and Tabok forest in Nam Ron subdistrict, Phetchabun province. At 14:30, a helicopter began continuous water drops on the blaze, making 38 sorties and releasing about 19,000 litres of water to support 20 ground officers from Forest Protection Unit Por Chor 8 (Nam Duea) who were working to contain the fire. Officials said more than 95% of the fire had been extinguished and the area brought under control. Ground teams were handling the remaining hotspots and would continue to monitor the area to prevent further flare-ups. However, later in the evening the fire reignited on a mountain behind Ban Thung Hin Poon village in Nam Ron subdistrict, Mueang Phetchabun district. As of 07:30 on 24 February, smoke was still visible inside the mountain area, officials said.