Suchart Urgently Deploys Aerial Operations to Intercept Mae On Forest Fire

Suchart Chomlhin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, urgently deployed an aerial operations team to support forest fire suppression in Mae On district, Chiang Mai province, after detecting a fire point spreading on high mountain peaks in a national forest reserve. Initial ground teams from volunteer and forestry officials have coordinated with local administrative organizations, but due to the steep and difficult-to-access terrain, they have been unable to fully control the fire with a risk of continuous spread to surrounding fuel-rich areas. Subsequently, Kantatphan Pisansukkul, the ministry's inspector, followed the directive and ordered helicopter support to address the forest fire and smoke issues in the national forest reserve. The initial operational plan involves the aerial team meeting with local agencies, conducting flight assessments of the fire situation, surveying fuel quantities, checking fire breaks, water sources, and helicopter landing zones to support efficient firefighting strategies before integrating ground and air forces to contain the situation as quickly as possible.