CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – The first forest fires of the year broke out in the south of Chiang Mai province, but authorities said conditions still kept the situation under control.
Fires spread from Tak through Lamphun into Chiang Mai
According to Kritsayam Kongsatri, director of the Protected Area Regional Office 16 in Chiang Mai, conditions since the start of 2026 had not yet been extreme because forests had retained some moisture. Over the past one to two weeks, however, more fires developed in the southern section of the province after blazes first started in Tak province and then moved through Lamphun into southern Chiang Mai.
Critical hotspot in Doi Tao and close watch on Op Luang
Kritsayam described the situation in Doi Tao district in the south of the province as currently the most critical, with the strongest fire spread reported there. Authorities were also closely monitoring Op Luang National Park, an ecologically important area of dry dipterocarp and mixed deciduous forest where prolonged dryness had caused heavy leaf fall and increased combustible material on the forest floor.
Forest closures, tighter controls and registration of locals
The Protected Area Regional Office 16 significantly stepped up surveillance at forest entry and exit points and ordered temporary forest closures. Residents who needed to enter forest areas to collect forest products were asked to register in advance so they would not be treated as potential suspects.
Adjusted patrols and call for public cooperation
Patrol plans inside the forests were revised so that teams now focused on zones where fires repeatedly occurred. Officials appealed for closer cooperation from the public on forest fire prevention and said they aimed to outperform last year’s results in firefighting and damage limitation.
Fuel management in Om Koi and controlled burns in key parks
In parallel, fuel‑management measures were under way in several regions, especially in the Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary, where fuel conditions were similar to those in Op Luang National Park in Hot district. Controlled fires had already been lit in small plots in the Ban Hong Wildlife Sanctuary and Mae Ping National Park to reduce dry material.
Small burn areas and 100 rai allocated in Mae Ping
Authorities stressed that the controlled burns were carried out in small, manageable sections that could be fully extinguished before nightfall, focusing on recurring fire hotspots or areas where intervention was strictly necessary. In Mae Ping National Park, about 100 rai – roughly 16 hectares – were designated for fuel management, including areas frequently used by local residents to collect forest products in order to ease pressure on surrounding forests.
No change to fire strategy despite limited implementation
Asked about possible adjustments to wildfire strategy based on cabinet decisions, Kritsayam said no changes were planned at this stage.
“In recent years, less than 3 percent of the planned fuel‑management areas have actually been treated, mainly due to unfavorable weather conditions, poor air circulation or concerns about possible impacts on local communities.”
said Kritsayam Kongsatri, director of Protected Area Regional Office 16.
Focus on hard‑to‑reach, high‑risk fire zones
Kritsayam added that operations would continue to focus on areas where fires were difficult to extinguish, recurred regularly or posed a real risk.
“This prioritization follows the technical guidelines set by the cabinet and is intended to ensure that limited resources are used as effectively as possible.”
said Kritsayam Kongsatri, regional protected‑areas chief.
Annual fire season raises health and air quality fears
While the situation remained under control at the time of reporting, the fires had already begun and could intensify as conditions grew drier in northern Thailand. For many people in the region, the annual fire season again threatened smoke, poor air quality and health risks as authorities weighed how strictly to enforce existing measures.