At Ban Huai Luang of Tambon Ban Kart, local administrative officials trained villagers on how to prevent forest fires and led them to open up firebreaks around the communal areas and key sites.

Combustible materials were also destroyed by fire as a pre-emptive move.

The tambon has 11 villages at risk of brushfires.

The two measures are being carried out this whole month ahead of the two-month outdoor burning ban.

Mae Hong Son last year was the worst hit province in the country with 2,298 hotspots.

It suffered through 23 unsafe dust days, causing 24,580 people to seek medical care and 58 flights to be cancelled.

Mae Sariang alone reported 542 hotspots.