Particulate matter in downtown Chiang Mai was reported at 118mcg early yesterday – a drop from the predawn figure of 149mcg – while the level of particulate matter in Chiang Dao district was reportedly 349mcg at 8am after which it lowered drastically.

Chiang Mai University academic Sutthinee Dontri, who has been researching forest-fire management, said controlled burns to mitigate forest fires had yielded good results in reducing hotspots in Chiang Mai‘s Chom Thong and Mae Chaem districts.

She said the number of hotspots and resulting particulate matter in the air were lower than last year thanks to the strict implementation of measures, particularly “beforehand burning”.

She said authorities should continue monitoring haze levels because people were still starting forest fires to clear land, while winds brought in smoke from neighbouring countries during this period.