BANGKOK, 25 March 2015 – The situation of forest fires and haze in the North has started to resolve, although military units will continue to carry out anti-smog operations.
Deputy government spokesman, Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd, told press members after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s teleconference with provincial governors of northern provinces that the haze in the North was lifting and that the airborne particulate matter readings for each province have dropped to acceptable levels. In the meantime, incidence of forest fires has declined thanks to cooperation from various agencies and members of the public. The haze is expected to lift completely soon, according to Maj. Gen. Sansern.
Meanwhile, Colonel Kongcheep Tantrawanich, the spokesperson to the Ministry of Defense, indicated after Tuesday’s meeting of the Defense Council that anti-forest fire patrols and aerial firefighting operations by military units were still ongoing in the North. The military would also continue to provide manpower and equipment for drought-mitigation efforts in 26 provinces, said the spokesman.
