CHIANG MAI, Thailand – The government is strengthening wildfire response efforts by using satellite technology to detect and contain fires more quickly, as authorities work to limit environmental damage and haze pollution.
According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Persvivatana, the approach was recently applied in Sri Lanna National Park in Chiang Mai’s Mae Taeng district, where satellite data identified multiple hotspots in a remote forest area. Officials deployed teams on foot due to difficult terrain, reaching the site hours later and bringing the fire under control the same day.
The blaze affected about 70 rai of dry dipterocarp and mixed deciduous forest. A total of 24 personnel from park protection units and patrol teams were involved in the operation, working under challenging conditions to contain the fire and prevent further spread.
Authorities said early detection through satellite systems enables faster responses and more effective control, even in hard-to-access areas. Initial findings indicate the fire may have been caused by human activity in the forest, prompting increased monitoring, stricter enforcement, and public calls to avoid open burning. (NNT)
