Thailand’s Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DPDPM) has been asked to send helicopters to help in the control of bushfires on Khao Laem mountain in Nakhon Nayok province, as fire fighters and volunteers are busy building firebreaks.

Nakhon Nayok Governor Buncha Chaovarin has ordered the establishment of a command centre at the Khao Phra Tambon (sub-district) Administrative Organisation, to coordinate fire-fighting operations between agencies.

People living in communities around Khao Laem mountain have been instructed to alert officials if they see wild animals fleeing the fires.

At least 10 fire trucks have been placed on standby in communities located around the mountain.

According to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the fires started in the evening of Tuesday, in the forest in Khao Phoem sub-district, but officials and volunteers managed to get them under control and built a firebreak to prevent the fires from spreading.

Fires re-ignited again yesterday evening (Wednesday) due to strong winds and spread quickly to Khao Laem, which is a steep sided mountain, making it very difficult for fire crews to reach the scene. Hence the need for helicopter support from the DPDPM.

Governor Bancha said that fighting forest fires at night is too risky for fire fighters, so officials decided to build firebreaks instead to protect nearby communities.

According to the “Fire & Rescue Thailand” Facebook page yesterday, fires from Khao Cha Phlu in Mueang district, which is behind the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, had spread to Khao Laem mountain.