CityNews – May 13th, Chiang Mai Municipality’s Radio Rescue Centre was informed of a fire in an abandoned grass field in two villages of Muang’s Padad sub-district, Chiang Mai.
By the time the officials arrived at the scene, they found that the fire had spread over around 100 rai of land.
Residents nearby was afraid the blaze would spread to their communities, and had failed at combatting the fire. Officials also tried to control the blaze, but it was difficult due to the amount of dried grass and the heat which caused the blaze to grow rapidly.
Fire-fighters managed after an hour to control the blaze just before reaching any houses.
According to local villagers, they had seen smoke wafting from the abandoned forest next to their villages, yet they didn’t suspect anything as they thought some villagers might be burning garbage.
There was no report of injuries and deaths. The investigations are ongoing.
On the same day, evening, at around 5pm, another fire was reported in the Governor’s provincial hall area behind The Chiang Mai Administrative Court.
The blaze spread around 10 rai of land and was contained just before reaching the main road’s petrol station.
It took firemen two hours to contain the fire believed to have been set by an abandoned lit cigarette.