MAE HONG SON — Forest fires were still burning high on mountains ringing the provincial capital on Tuesday, with firefighters struggling to reach hot spots in very difficult terrain.
The fires broke out about 8.30am on Monday in an area between Mai Ngae village of tambon Pang Mu and Tha Pong Daeng village in tambon Pha Bong, and an area near Ban Mai in tambon Pang Mu.
In tambon Huay Pha, fires were reported high in the mountains near Mae Suya Mai, Nam Kat, Huay Salob and Thung Masan villages.
By 11am, Muang district officials and volunteers had been able to bring the fire between Ban Mai Ngae and Tha Pong Daeng villages under control. However, the blaze sprang up again about 1.20pm.
Fire control units and forest protection units in the areas were deployed to combat the fire and were able to bring it back under control by 2.15pm.
But about 8.15pm the fire erupted for a third time, sending out smoke that covered Mae Hong Son township.
The fires were still raging around the provincial capital onTuesday morning, with officials warning the haze over the province is expected to become worse and the air quality to deteriorate further.