Smokey MountainsFIREFIGHTERS BATTLE FOREST FIRES NEAR HUA HIN

Smokey Mountains

FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE FOREST FIRES NEAR HUA HIN

Residents across much of Hua Hin and Cha Am were affected by smoke and other air pollution emanating from several forest fires to the north west of Hua Hin, close to the Black Mountain golf course and water park. The Suomi NPP satellite detected three heat hotspots in the area (approximately shown on the map further down in this article), with one in the morning of Tuesday 27th January, and another two subsequently, which were followed up by reports from citizens. Officials from the Phetchaburi Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment, and an initial team of 20 officers from three different teams went to the area to contain and extinguish the fires, followed up with a further 25 personnel and a helicopter on the ensuing days.

All the detected fires were part of one cluster, which would have had the same starting point, although neither the details of that nor what caused the fire to start have yet been reported. The terrain made some parts difficult to access, which is where the helicopter was utilised to scoop up water from nearby resources and then drop it to damp down the fires; 30 water drops were carried out, releasing a total of 15,000 litres of water. By Wednesday afternoon (28th January) officials announced that the situation was under control, although work and observation was continuing into Thursday, with firebreaks being reinforced and inspections aimed at preventing flare-ups.

The other local and provincial teams involved came from the Sam Phraya Non-Hunting Area preparation zone, the Klai Kangwon Palace Forest Fire Control Command Centre, the Cha-am Non-Hunting Area, the Sam Phraya Subdistrict Administrative Organisation and the Nong Phlap Forest Fire Control Station, while the helicopter came from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Central Region Coordination Centre in Nakhon Sawan. All should be congratulated on their swift and efficient work in dealing with this still ongoing situation. Smoke is still present and evident in the air in many areas, but this should dissipate and help to confirm to the authorities that their efforts have been completely successful.

Above: The red circle shows the approximate area where the fires were burning

While it is not known what started this fire, it comes at the same time as Prachuap Khiri Khan has announced a province-wide burning ban, prohibiting all forms of open burning from 1st February to 31st May 2026, in efforts to curb PM2.5 pollution and protect public health. It is, in fact, illegal to burn anyway, so this is more a focus on the issue rather than any new laws, and punishment for anyone found violating the ban may face legal action, including fines and possible imprisonment under the existing laws. This recently announced focus coincides with the time of year that most burning occurs, such as the burning of sugarcane fields and rice stubble, but monitoring of all open burning will be stepped up.

Citizens are being encouraged to help authorities in enforcing the law by reporting any burning, to help prevent the spread of fires and reduce air pollution. Below are the Emergency hotlines that are available around the clock for reporting fires and related incidents:

  • 1362: Forest Protection hotline for forest fires and illegal slash-and-burn activities
  • 1586: Highways Department emergency hotline
  • 1584: Department of Rural Roads emergency hotline (night-time road incidents)
  • 1784: Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation emergency hotline
  • 1146: Department of Rural Roads hotline for reporting roadside burning
  • 191: Police emergency hotline
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