Tonight's Urgent Mission: Battling Forest Fire at Sakaerat Research Station, Over 6,400 Rai Burned

Officials are combating a forest fire at Sakaerat Research Station that has intensely spread to Highway 304, causing over 6,400 rai of damage. At 1:00 PM on February 13, 2024, Surachit Waengsothon, director of the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, led a team to suppress the fire near the community area in Huay Kaeo Village. The fire originated around 8:00 PM on February 12 near Wang Nam Khiao Village, with the cause still unknown. The area's dry vegetation, estimated at over 180,000 tons annually, has made fire control extremely challenging. Multiple agencies, including disaster relief centers, military development units, and local wildlife protection zones, are coordinating efforts to prevent the fire from reaching community areas. By 3:00 PM, local officials had assessed the damage, with the fire consuming approximately 6,400 rai of the station's total 48,800 rai. Smoke has covered Highway 304 for several kilometers, prompting traffic warnings. By 4:30 PM, a helicopter from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment arrived to assist in aerial firefighting, using water from a nearby reservoir to combat the blaze.