Singapore has approved the use of two Chinook helicopters deployed to Thailand for a military drill to help put out forest fires in the North adding to the smoke haze over the region.
The 3rd Army reported that Singapore had agreed to a request from Prime Minister Prayut-o-cha, and the two helicopters were deployed to Chiang Mai on Wednesday.
The Singapore army is taking part in the Cope Tiger 2015 exercise with Thai soldiers in Nakhon Ratchasima province. The Chinook heavy-lift helicopters were being used in the drill.
Singapore responded by sending both Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to Chiang Mai to assist with fire fighting, and said it was ready to give more help if asked, the 3rd Army said.
The Thai army sent one Mi-17 transport helicopter and three Huey helicopters to Chiang Mai to help contain the fires, while the air force is using a C-130 transport aircraft for the operation.
Forest fires were reported burning in Omkoi and Wiang Haeng districts of Chiang Mai province and in Mae Sariang, Muang Mae Hong Son, Pang Ma Pha and Mae La Noi districts of Mae Hong Son province.
Fires were also reported in Mae Suai, Wiang Pa Pao and Mae Fa Luang districts of Chiang Rai, in Wiang Sa and Bo Klue districts of Nan, and in Mae Sot and Umphang districts of Tak province.
The Thai army has decommissioned all its Chinook helicopters for lack of spare parts for repairs.
Gen Prayut said on Tuesday that he planned to set up a special unit to cope with forest fires and would procure aircraft for the purpose, because existing aircraft assigned to the task were old and unsafe.