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Watcharaphol Oversees Phu Klon Temple Fire, Helicopter on Standby

Watcharaphol Oversees Phu Klon Temple Fire, Helicopter on Standby

MGR Online•Society•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Deputy Agriculture Minister oversees efforts to contain a forest fire threatening Phu Klon Forest Temple in Udon Thani, with potential for helicopter deployment.

  • •Deputy Agriculture Minister Watcharaphol Khaokham is directing efforts to control a forest fire near Phu Klon Forest Temple in Udon Thani.
  • •The fire has spread across provincial borders into Nong Khai and generated over 60 hotspots.
  • •Helicopters are on standby for support if the situation becomes critical and ground efforts are insufficient.
  • •Despite the fire, tourists can still visit the temple, but are advised to wear masks due to smoke.

Overview

  • •Deputy Minister of Agriculture Watcharaphol Khaokham visited Phu Klon Forest Temple to monitor the fire crisis in Nong Ya Plain due to continuous heat spots.
  • •At 01:17 AM on April 12, 2020 hotspots were detected in the Na Yung – Nam Som National Park area.
  • •Officials began planning fire control at 07:00 AM and commenced operations at 09:00 AM on April 12.
  • •Deputy Minister Watcharaphol Khaokham stated that if the situation escalates beyond ground efforts, helicopters will be deployed.
  • •Tourists can still visit Phu Klon Forest Temple during the Songkran festival, but should wear masks due to smoke.
  • •The forest fire began on the afternoon of April 11, originating from villagers' fields in Nam Som and Nong Ya Plain districts.
  • •The cause is speculated to be accumulated heat over a long period, not human activity.
  • •The head of the Nong Ya Plain sub-district expressed concern about insufficient water for firefighting and burned power lines.

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Key Quotes

Watcharaphol Khaokham
"If the situation exceeds ground capacity, the Royal Rainmaking Department has been coordinated to prepare helicopters and aircraft for immediate support."
หากสถานการณ์รุนแรงเกินกำลังภาคพื้นดิน ได้ประสานกรมฝนหลวงฯ เตรียมความพร้อมเฮลิคอปเตอร์และอากาศยานสนับสนุนทันที
Phra Khru Palat Kittiphum Sirivatthago
"I fear the water to help extinguish the fire may not be enough and the power lines have already been burned."
เกรงว่าน้ำที่จะมาช่วยดับไฟอาจจะไม่พอและสายไฟฟ้าก็ถูกเพลิงไหม้หมดแล้ว

Key Entities

Person

Watcharaphol Khaokham(วัชรพล ขาวขำ)
Deputy Minister of Agriculture who is overseeing the forest fire control efforts at Phu Klon Forest Temple.
Phra Khru Palat Kittiphum Sirivatthago(พระครูปลัดกิตติภูมิ สิริวัฑฒโก)
Head of the Nong Ya Plain sub-district who commented on the fire situation and its impact.

Place

Phu Klon Forest Temple(วัดป่าภูก้อน)
A temple in Udon Thani province that is currently threatened by a forest fire and is receiving attention from the Deputy Minister of Agriculture.
Udon Thani(อุดรธานี)ℹ️
Province in Thailand where Phu Klon Forest Temple is located and a forest fire is occurring.
Nong Khai(หนองคาย)ℹ️
Province adjacent to Udon Thani where the forest fire has spread.
Nong Ya Plain(นายูง)
District in Udon Thani province affected by the forest fire.
Nam Som(น้ำโสม)
District in Udon Thani province affected by the forest fire.
Som(สังคม)
District in Nong Khai province where the fire has spread.

Organization

Royal Rainmaking Department(กรมฝนหลวงฯ)
A department that has been coordinated to provide helicopter support for firefighting efforts.

Timeline

April 12(12 เม.ย.)
The date a significant number of hotspots were detected and fire control operations began.
April 11(11 เม.ย.)
The date the forest fire reportedly began.