An aircraft from the Royal Thai Air Force and helicopters from the Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation carried out fire-fighting missions today (Saturday) on fires on Doi Jorakhae and in adjacent areas in Mae Suai district of Chiang Rai, in support of ground firefighters.

Hundreds of firefighters have been mobilised by the forest fire prevention and mitigation centre to deal with the forest fires on Doi Jorakhae, which is a steep mountain adjoining Mueang and Mae Chan districts of Chiang Rai.

In areas which are inaccessible, firefighters have built fire breaks to prevent fires from spreading to a monastery in Ban Bo Thong, Tha Sut sub-district of Mueang district.

The Geo-Informatics Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) reported 52 hotspots in Chiang Rai yesterday, with 15 in Mae Sui district, 13 in Mueang district, nine in Wiang Pa Pao district and three each in Mae Chan and Pan districts.

Officials said that PM2.5 pollution in Chiang Rai will worsen before it starts to improve, adding that Songkran revellers celebrate the event at their own risk.