The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said that due to worsening smog caused by wildfires, Lampang province had suffered from harmful air pollution levels for three days in a row.

The department’s director-general Chatchai Promlert said his department had been informed that wildfires in Nan, Payao and Surat Thani had ravaged more than 80 rai (13 hectares) of forestland.

“I have already ordered our local offices in these provinces to work with related agencies to extinguish the fires and build the firebreaks to control the wildfires spreading,” Chatchai said.

“We have also cooperated with the Pollution Control Department [PCD] and found that nine northern provinces still have average air quality. However, Lampang still suffers from harmful levels of air pollution, so I have told the local authorities to |rapidly tackle the haze problem and |prevent burning in their areas of responsibility.”

The PCD yesterday reported that the level of particulate matter of up to 10 microns in size (PM10) in Lampang’s Mae Moh district was at 154 micrograms. It was the highest air pollution recorded in the northern region.

An uncontrolled wildfire was also reported at Thung Salaeng Luang National Park in Phitsanulok, where a large area has burned for five days.

Phitsanulok Wildfire Control Division chief Banjong Srijaiwong said that since October, the province had experienced 218 wildfire incidents, mostly caused by people burning to expand their farmland.

Regarding the current wildfire in the national park, Banjong said officers had been working to extinguish the blaze and build firebreaks, adding that it would take one or two days to get it under control.

According to information from the Royal Forestry Department and Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, there were 47 hotspots in Thailand yesterday – 28 on agricultural land, 12 in national park areas and seven at national forest reserves.

Meanwhile, Disease Control Department director Jessada Chokdamrongsuk recommended that vulnerable groups including the elderly, pregnant women, sick people and children should avoid going outside and wear face masks.

“If the PM10 level is above 120 micrograms, it is harmful to health, so people should refrain from outdoor activities and always close doors and windows. People in poor health or suffering from chronic diseases should always wear a face mask,” Jessada said.

In an effort to reduce air pollution, water-spraying equipment was deployed in northern provinces such as Chiang Mai and Lampang to increase moisture and reduce dust particles in the air.

Authorities also warned people not to burn during this period, with penalties of one month imprisonment, a Bt2,000 fine or both.

MANY PROVINCES were affected by wildfires yesterday, causing the acute haze problem to intensify, while the Disease Control Department warned vulnerable groups such as the elderly and the infirm to stay indoors and wear face masks.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said that due to worsening smog caused by wildfires, Lampang province had suffered from harmful air pollution levels for three days in a row.

The department’s director-general Chatchai Promlert said his department had been informed that wildfires in Nan, Payao and Surat Thani had ravaged more than 80 rai (13 hectares) of forestland.

“I have already ordered our local offices in these provinces to work with related agencies to extinguish the fires and build the firebreaks to control the wildfires spreading,” Chatchai said.

“We have also cooperated with the Pollution Control Department [PCD] and found that nine northern provinces still have average air quality. However, Lampang still suffers from harmful levels of air pollution, so I have told the local authorities to |rapidly tackle the haze problem and |prevent burning in their areas of responsibility.”

The PCD yesterday reported that the level of particulate matter of up to 10 microns in size (PM10) in Lampang’s Mae Moh district was at 154 micrograms. It was the highest air pollution recorded in the northern region.

An uncontrolled wildfire was also reported at Thung Salaeng Luang National Park in Phitsanulok, where a large area has burned for five days.

Phitsanulok Wildfire Control Division chief Banjong Srijaiwong said that since October, the province had experienced 218 wildfire incidents, mostly caused by people burning to expand their farmland.

Regarding the current wildfire in the national park, Banjong said officers had been working to extinguish the blaze and build firebreaks, adding that it would take one or two days to get it under control.

According to information from the Royal Forestry Department and Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, there were 47 hotspots in Thailand yesterday – 28 on agricultural land, 12 in national park areas and seven at national forest reserves.

Meanwhile, Disease Control Department director Jessada Chokdamrongsuk recommended that vulnerable groups including the elderly, pregnant women, sick people and children should avoid going outside and wear face masks.

“If the PM10 level is above 120 micrograms, it is harmful to health, so people should refrain from outdoor activities and always close doors and windows. People in poor health or suffering from chronic diseases should always wear a face mask,” Jessada said.

In an effort to reduce air pollution, water-spraying equipment was deployed in northern provinces such as Chiang Mai and Lampang to increase moisture and reduce dust particles in the air.

Authorities also warned people not to burn during this period, with penalties of one month imprisonment, a Bt2,000 fine or both.