MAE HONG SON — 23 April 2026, A wildfire has escalated in northern Thailand after spreading from Ban Na Krachong into residential areas at Ban Mai Ngae, threatening official residences and a military camp.
Officials said the blaze intensified overnight, advancing into the mountains north of Ban Mai Ngae village, Moo 8, Pang Moo subdistrict, Mueang Mae Hong Son district. Fire crews battled the flames throughout the night but were unable to contain them.
Kanchit Wongphraya, a senior forestry officer and head of the Mae Hong Son Forest Protection and Development Unit, said teams from forest protection units MS.2 and MS.8, along with the Mae Hong Son wildfire control centre, known as “Fire Hawks”, had joined forces with military personnel, local administrative officials and villagers to fight the fire.
However, efforts were hampered by darkness and steep mountainous terrain, leaving some areas inaccessible.
Authorities have established firebreaks around the affected zone and deployed water trucks to stand by at the Juvenile and Family Court officials’ residences to prevent the flames from reaching nearby homes and government buildings.
While forestry units are typically tasked with responding to satellite-detected hotspots, they have now been redeployed to support firefighting efforts in inner zones and areas close to residential and official buildings, as the situation has overwhelmed local agencies.
The wildfire at Ban Mai Ngae, also known as Doi Kho, is believed to have spread from Ban Na Krachong, a satellite village of Ban Hua Nam Mae Saked, since before noon on 22 April. Officials attempted to contain the fire in stages but were unsuccessful, particularly as nightfall made operations more difficult.
Additional teams were sent into the area on the morning of 23 April, with authorities expressing confidence that the blaze could be brought under control during daylight hours, when access improves and the risk of falls for firefighters is reduced.