TAK, April 9 (TNA) – Dozens of local soldiers,
administrative officials and volunteers took several hours to finally control a
forest fire in Mae Sot district of Tak but about 200 rai or 320,000 square
meters of forestland was destroyed.
The fire that worsened smoke haze in Mae Sot took place on a
mountain near the Huai Luek reservoir close to Mae Pa village of Mae Pa
sub-district early Tuesday morning.
Soldiers, administrative officials and volunteers were
deployed together with two fire engines. As there was not any access for the
trucks, the personnel had to carry water and equipment and walk on the
mountainous terrain to put out the fire amid strong winds.
Although the fire was under control, the personnel remained
there to keep hosing ashes to prevent fire from recurring as the temperature
there measured as high as 41 degrees Celsius at day. Officials believed that
someone had set the forest ablaze to conveniently find forest products.
Mae Sot district chief Chaiyaphruek Shiangtanrak kept dozens
of defense volunteers and soldiers in the forest to look for arsonists and make
firebreaks.(TNA)
