LOEI, Feb 28 (TNA) – Officials raced against time to build a new firebreak in the Phu Kradueng National Park after putting out wildfire there at 10pm yesterday.
Mi-17 helicopters of the Army Aviation Center were transporting bulldozers, pickup trucks, fuel and other equipment to the national park in the northeastern province for officials to create firebreaks after fire destroyed about 3,400 rai on Feb 16-17 and resumed later. Officials took 11 days to extinguish the fire in the popular national park.
Three bulldozers were being used to build a 10-kilometer-long firebreak along an old trail. About one kilometre of the firebreak was completed and the rest section will be finished within next month. Old firebreaks on a combined distance of 70 kilometers in the national park will be maintained and officials will be watching out for fire in the park that covers about 20,000 rai.
The Phu Kradueng National Park was hit by three wildfires in eight years. Lots of its charming pine trees were burnt. Officials blamed the fires on local people who want forest products. They live in Elert, Na Paen and Wang Yang villages of Sri Than sub-district in Phu Kradueng district. (TNA)
