20160302 Thailand Forest fires in Trat show no sign of easing
Thailand Mar 02 2016 “Forest”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Forest fires in Trat show no sign of easing
Updated: 2016-03-02-15:09
Fires burn unchecked in a peat forest in Trat, sending thick smoke over nearby villages and schools, as firemen battle for the seventh day to extinguish flames fuelled by accumulated dry, dead leaves and tree bark.
Fires burning in a peat swamp forest in this eastern province sent thick smoke to settle over a nearby technical college on Wednesday as firemen battled for the seventh day to extinguish the flames.
The fires are in forest reserve behind Trat Technical College in tambon Wang Krachae in Muang district.
The thick smoke covered the school buildings and teachers’ dormitories, forcing staff to wear face masks.
The college director, Sakchai Theerapratheep, said the fires have been burning in the peat swamp and nearby forest behind the college for the last week and showed no sign of dying down. As the college was closed on Wednesday during the final semester, students were not affected, he said.
Thitinan Udomsuk, head of Trat provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office, led officials to inspect the area where the fire is burning on Wednesday.
Mr Thitinan said the fires were burning in two areas of the reserve forest between tambon Wang Krachae and tambon Huay Raeng. Forest fire fighters had sprayed water to prevent the flames from spreading further and had the fires about 80% under control.
However, it was an uphill task to put out the fires, which were feeding on accumulated dry, dead leaves and tree bark, which had piled up 5-15cm high in many places.
Bush fires were also burning in two more areas in Bo Rai district and tambon Tha Kum, he said. He blamed the fires on the burning of forestland by farmers living along the border on the Cambodian side. He said the flames spread into forest areas on the Thai side.
Web Source: Bangkok Post
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/883388/forest-fires-in-trat-show-no-sign-of-easing