Southern Chiang Mai faces rising forest fire risk

2026-02-17 - 03:46

CHIANG MAI — 17 February 2026, Wildfires have begun to break out in the southern part of Chiang Mai province, though authorities say the situation remains under control due to lingering forest moisture. Kritsayam Kongsatri, director of the Protected Area Regional Office 16 in Chiang Mai, said conditions have not yet become severe since the start of 2026, as forests still retain some moisture. However, over the past one to two weeks, fires have started spreading into the southern zone of the province. The fires initially broke out in Tak before moving into Lamphun and subsequently into southern Chiang Mai, he said. The most serious situation is currently in Doi Tao district of Chiang Mai. Authorities are also monitoring Op Luang National Park, an ecologically significant area known for its dry dipterocarp and mixed deciduous forests. Prolonged dry conditions have caused leaf fall, increasing the amount of combustible material on the forest floor. The Protected Area Regional Office 16 has stepped up surveillance at forest entry and exit points and announced temporary forest closures. Residents who need to enter forest areas to forage are urged to register in advance to avoid being treated as suspects. Patrol plans in the forest interior have been adjusted, with officers focusing on areas prone to repeated fires. Officials are calling on the public to cooperate in wildfire prevention efforts and aim to improve on last year’s statistics. Fuel management operations are underway in several areas, particularly in Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary, where fuel conditions are similar to those at Op Luang National Park in Hot district, Chiang Mai. Controlled burns have also begun in small plots in Ban Hong Wildlife Sanctuary and Mae Ping National Park. Authorities stressed that burns are being conducted in small, manageable sections that can be extinguished before nightfall, focusing on areas with recurring fires or where intervention is strictly necessary. In Mae Ping National Park alone, about 100 rai (approximately 16 hectares) have been designated for fuel management, including areas frequently used by local residents for foraging, to ease pressure on surrounding forests. Asked whether wildfire management plans under Cabinet resolutions would be revised, Kritsayam said no changes were planned. In previous years, less than 3% of the targeted fuel management operations were completed, largely due to unfavourable weather conditions, poor air ventilation rates or concerns about impacts on local communities. He said operations would continue to prioritise areas where fires are difficult to extinguish, frequently recur or pose genuine risk, in line with technical guidelines set by the Cabinet.