Minister Deploys Helicopter to Battle Peat Swamp Fires
A helicopter has been deployed to combat persistent peat swamp fires in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Khuan Khreng area that began in mid-August, with aerial water-dropping operations supporting ground crews in the hard-to-reach low-water forest zo
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin has ordered relevant agencies to deploy helicopter support immediately for controlling and extinguishing forest fires in the Khuan Khreng peat swamp area of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, following continuous fires that began on August 11, 2569, with multiple flare-ups reported. Suchart instructed close monitoring and urgent fire suppression, particularly in the low-water peat forest zones where smoldering fires and underground combustion pose a significant risk of widespread propagation. He authorized helicopter deployment to support ground personnel with aerial surveys and water-dropping operations, while emphasizing personnel and public safety. The Southern Forest Fire Control and Operations Center, part of Protected Area Management Office 5 in Nakhon Si Thammarat, reported fires across multiple locations in the Bo Llo and Talesai wildlife sanctuaries between August 11-14, with some being recurrent fires showing continuous dark-line activity requiring close vigilance. Following Suchart's orders, the Aviation Operations Center dispatched helicopter number 1106 to the Southern Regional Operations Base in Nakhon Si Thammarat on August 15, 2569, at 08:00 to prepare for and support aerial reconnaissance and water-dropping missions in the Khuan Khreng peat swamp area. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will continue monitoring the situation and coordinate ground and aerial personnel to rapidly control the fires, prevent escalation, and minimize impact on communities and local ecosystems.
