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Kanchanaburi Wildfires: Suchart Deploys Fire Tigers & Helicopters

Kanchanaburi Wildfires: Suchart Deploys Fire Tigers & Helicopters

Khaosod•Society•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Minister Suchart has ordered the urgent deployment of specialized 'Forest Fire Tiger' units and helicopters to combat escalating wildfires in Kanchanaburi province.

  • •Wildfires in Kanchanaburi province are worsening, with a significant increase in hotspots detected.
  • •Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Suchart Chomklin, has ordered the deployment of 'Forest Fire Tiger' units and helicopters.
  • •The operation aims to protect core conservation forests, including Khao Sok National Park and Sai Yok National Park.
  • •The deployed teams will focus on areas bordering Myanmar and are coordinating with regional conservation offices.
  • •The ultimate objective is to safeguard inner forest resources and reduce public impact from the fires and resulting PM 2.5.

Overview

  • •On February 16, 2026, the wildfire situation in Kanchanaburi province showed an intensifying trend.
  • •Minister Suchart Chomklin issued an urgent order to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for immediate action.
  • •Specialized 'Forest Fire Tiger' teams from Chumpphon and Nakhon Si Thammarat were dispatched to Kanchanaburi to assist in combating wildfires.
  • •Helicopters from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment were mobilized to support the wildfire suppression mission.
  • •The escalation of the situation was attributed to an increase in hotspots spreading widely across conservation forest areas.
  • •There is a high risk of fires encroaching into core inner conservation forest areas, including Khao Sok National Park and Sai Yok National Park.
  • •The fires are moving towards protected areas such as Khao Sok National Park and Sai Yok National Park, as well as bordering areas of Suphan Buri province.
  • •The 'Forest Fire Tiger' units are instructed to coordinate closely with the Area 3 Conservation Office (Ban Pong) to plan operations in steep terrain and mitigate PM 2.5.

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Key Quotes

Atthapol Charoenchansa
"The ultimate goal is to protect the inner forest resources and minimize the impact on the public."
เป้าหมายสูงสุดคือการปกป้องทรัพยากรป่าไม้ชั้นในและลดผลกระทบต่อประชาชนให้ได้มากที่สุด

Key Entities

Person

Suchart(สุชาติ)
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment who ordered the urgent deployment of resources to combat wildfires in Kanchanaburi.
Mr. Suchart Chomklin(นายสุชาติ ชมกลิ่น)
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment issuing urgent orders to combat wildfires in Kanchanaburi.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment(รมว.ทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)
The ministerial title held by Suchart Chomklin, overseeing the response to environmental issues like wildfires.
Mr. Atthapol Charoenchansa(นายอรรถพล เจริญชันษา)
Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, providing details on the wildfire situation and response.

Organization

Forest Fire Tigers, Department of National Parks(เสือไฟ​ กรมอุทยานฯ​)
Specialized wildlife fire suppression units from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation dispatched to Kanchanaburi.
Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation(กรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่า และพันธุ์พืช)
The government agency responsible for coordinating the 'Forest Fire Tiger' units and other resources to combat wildfires.
MONRE(ทส.)
Abbreviation for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, providing helicopter support for wildfire suppression.
Department of National Parks(กรมอุทยานแห่งชาติฯ)
The department implementing the orders to deploy 'Forest Fire Tiger' teams and other resources to combat wildfires.
Bureau of Prevention, Suppression, and Fire Control (BPSFC)(สำนักป้องกัน ปราบปราม และควบคุมไฟป่า (สปฟ.))
The specific bureau within the Department of National Parks tasked with elevating response to the intensifying wildfire situation.
Special Wildlife Fire Suppression Unit 'Forest Fire Tigers'(ชุดปฏิบัติการพิเศษดับไฟป่า "ชุดเสือไฟ")
Elite units deployed from Chumpphon and Nakhon Si Thammarat to reinforce wildfire suppression efforts in Kanchanaburi.
Chumphon Forest Fire Operations Center(ศูนย์ปฏิบัติการไฟป่าชุมพร)
The operational base from which 'Forest Fire Tiger' units are dispatched to wildfire sites.
Area 3 Conservation Office (Ban Pong)(สำนักบริหารพื้นที่อนุรักษ์ที่ 3 (บ้านโป่ง))
The regional conservation office that the 'Forest Fire Tiger' units are instructed to coordinate with for wildfire suppression.

Place

Kanchanaburi(กาญจนบุรี)ℹ️
The province in Thailand where the intensifying wildfire situation is occurring.
Nakhon Si Thammarat(นครศรีธรรมราช)ℹ️
The province from which 'Forest Fire Tiger' units are being deployed to Kanchanaburi for wildfire suppression.
Khao Sok National Park(อุทยานแห่งชาติเขื่อนศรีนครินทร์)ℹ️
A conservation area in Kanchanaburi facing a high risk of wildfire encroachment.
Si Sawat District(ขหล.ศรีสวัสดิ์)
An area within Kanchanaburi where hotspots have been detected, near the border of a protected forest.
Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary(ขสป.สลักพระ)
A wildlife sanctuary where numerous hotspots have been reported, contributing to the wildfire crisis.
Dan Mae Chalaep Subdistrict(ต.ด่านแม่แฉลบ)
A subdistrict where royal land is experiencing numerous hotspots, indicating wildfire activity.
Ong Phra Subdistrict(ต.องค์พระ)
A subdistrict in Dan Chang District, Suphan Buri, bordering areas where fires are moving towards national park boundaries.
Dan Chang District(อ.ด่านช้าง)
A district in Suphan Buri province where fires are encroaching towards forest reserves and national parks.
Suphan Buri Province(จ.สุพรรณบุรี)ℹ️
A province bordering Kanchanaburi where fires are moving towards protected forest areas.
Sai Yok National Park(อุทยานแห่งชาติไทรโยค)ℹ️
A national park in Kanchanaburi where fire clusters have been detected, threatening forest areas near the Myanmar border.
Wang Yai National Forest Reserve(ป่าสงวนแห่งชาติป่าวังใหญ่)
A forest reserve within Sai Yok National Park where fire clusters are present.
Mae Nam Noi Forest(ป่าแม่น้ำน้อย)
A forest area near Sai Yok National Park where fire clusters have been detected, bordering Myanmar.
Myanmar(เมียนมา)ℹ️
The neighboring country whose border areas are adjacent to affected forest reserves in Kanchanaburi, posing a cross-border fire risk.

Stat

PM 2.5ℹ️
Particulate matter pollution resulting from wildfires, which the operations aim to reduce, particularly from border areas.