The Forest Fires Control Operations Centre of the Department of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation reported today the detection of 647 hotspots in 17 northern provinces, including 133 in Chiang Mai alone.
Most of the hotspots are in conserved forest and national forest reserves.
Meanwhile, it is reported that a village headman, in Pang Hin Fon sub-district of Mae Chaem district in Chiang Mai, lost consciousness following smoke inhalation while fighting forest fires in Ban Mae Ngan Luang yesterday.
Other firefighting volunteers managed to carry the unconscious victim across mountainous terrain with great difficulty to a safer zone and then to the Mae Chaem district hospital for medical treatment.
The victim is out of danger now and his condition is stable but still he remains in hospital and is being closely monitored.
