A FIERCE forest fire that erupted last night (Feb. 12) at Sakaerat Environmental Research Station in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) province has already spread across nearly 4,000 rai as officials urgently spraying water and set up firebreaks to contain it, Amarin TV said.
The severe forest fire broke out at 8.40 p.m. within this research station in Udom Sap subdistrict, Wang Nam Khiao district, with the flames spreading towards Ban Ba Dan village.
Research station officials urgently asked Udom Sap Subdistrict Administrative Organisation and other relevant agencies to send firefighters and water trucks to help contain the fire, as it is spreading rapidly due to the hot and dry weather conditions, with a large accumulation of dry leaves and branches acting as excellent fuel.
Although officials of this research station, within Phu Khao Luang National Forest Reserve covering Wang Nam Khiao and Pak Thong Chai districts, had already set up firebreaks along the affected area, this blaze which erupted at a eucalyptus forest adjacent to the station spread rapidly and quickly burned over 3,000 rai of protected forest.
Mr. Surachit Waengsothorn, director of the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, said that the forest under the station’s care is a dry dipterocarp variety, which is naturally fire-resistant.
Forest fires occur regularly every year during the dry season, as it is a natural part of this ecosystem, the only difference is the timing of the outbreak.
The dry dipterocarp forest covers approximately 6,400 rai in both districts and so far almost 80%, around 4,000 rai, has been burned, but the damage to the trees, as most have fire-resistant trunks, has not yet been significant.
However, the fire is still smoldering, and officials are monitoring the situation. Fire trucks and water tanks were brought in to spray water along the firebreaks because these vehicles could not drive into the forest. Firefighters are working hard to prevent the blaze from spreading to the homes of villagers surrounding the research station.
This is a natural consequence of the ecosystem and if effort is made to prevent these fires from erupting for many years, this forest’s ecosystem will disappear, turning a dry evergreen forest instead. However wild rabbits, quail, partridges and other animals would not be able to survive in a dry evergreen forest, Surachit explained.
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Top and Front Page – The big forest fire raging at Sakaerat Environmental Research Station in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) since last night. Photos – Amarin TV
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