MAE HONG SON — 1 April 2026, Pai district remains shrouded in dense haze as wildfires continue to burn across mountainous areas, pushing air pollution to hazardous levels, officials said.
Authorities reported that Pai, Mueang Mae Hong Son and Mae Sariang districts are experiencing PM2.5 levels in the red and purple zones, indicating severe health risks.
At 07:00, 24-hour average PM2.5 readings reached 293.1 micrograms per cubic metre in Pai, 147.3 in Mueang Mae Hong Son and 145.6 in Mae Sariang, all far exceeding safe standards.
Governor Wiboon Waewbundit chaired an emergency “war room” meeting at 08:00 to monitor wildfire and haze conditions, as officials warned the situation remains critical.
Data showed 3,851 hotspot detections between 1 January and 31 March, with Pai recording the highest number at 845. Most fires were found in protected forest areas.
The governor has ordered a strict ban on entering conservation forests from 1 February to 30 April, warning violators face legal action. Arrests have already been made for illegal entry, hunting and deliberate forest burning.
Firefighting efforts have been hampered by steep terrain, making many areas inaccessible to ground crews. Authorities have deployed helicopters to drop water on active fires, completing 28 flights and releasing more than 14,000 litres of water in a single day, with further operations planned.
Officials said additional aircraft have been requested to support containment efforts, particularly in areas where fires continue to spread beyond the reach of ground teams.
Despite ongoing operations, volunteers and officials are struggling to fully extinguish the fires, with smouldering debris and inaccessible mountain zones allowing flames to persist.
Authorities also cited cross-border haze from neighbouring countries and weather conditions, including temperature inversions trapping smoke in valleys, as factors worsening air quality.
Disaster officials warned of at least seven active fire clusters burning for more than six hours as of 15:03 on 1 April, raising concerns over potential large-scale wildfires.
Residents have been urged to take precautions as the crisis continues, with officials acknowledging that significant rainfall may be the only effective way to clear the haze.
