Sucharat Closely Monitors Wildfire, Orders Helicopter Support to Control Thong Pha Phum Forest Fire

On February 22, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Sucharat Chomklin closely monitored the forest fire situation in Kanchanaburi Province, ordering agencies from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to integrate ground and aerial forces to urgently control forest fires and smoke in the forest areas around Sri Nakharin Dam. The Ministry's office supported Helicopter 1110 to address the forest fire and smoke issues, meeting with the Forest Fire Command Center to track heat spots and assess the need for aerial support. They identified one area in Thong Pha Phum National Park requiring aerial survey, discovering a large forest fire group north of Ban E Tong, with fire spreading towards Khao Chang Phueak, an important tourist site. The fire had significant accumulated fuel like broom grass and cogon grass, risking wide expansion. The survey found two fire lines: a western line with a natural water barrier and an eastern line potentially spreading to Khao Chang Phueak. They developed an urgent action plan, with national park staff preparing to enter the area after helicopter water drops. Helicopter 1110 conducted 38 water-dropping missions, totaling 19,000 liters to prevent fire from spreading. They successfully controlled the eastern fire line, while ground staff managed the western line by directing fire towards the natural water barrier. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized continuous monitoring and readiness of personnel and aircraft to respond quickly to potential fires during this dry season.