The government has urgently ordered the extinguishing of the Sakha-Rat forest fire by dispatching aircraft to make 10 water drops to control the blaze and has scheduled the operations team to continue efforts tomorrow morning.
On 13 February 2026, Ms. Lalida Pertwiwatthana, Deputy Spokesperson of the Office of the Prime Minister, revealed that Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, urgently instructed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and the aviation operations team to accelerate support for firefighting efforts in the Sakha-Rat Environmental Research Station area in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, after the fire rapidly spread in dry dipterocarp forest containing abundant grass and bamboo fuel.
An aerial survey found the fire line spreading extensively. Nakhon Ratchasima province immediately requested support for aircraft to conduct firefighting operations. At 17:00, the operations team completed a total of 10 water-dropping flights, which helped control and partially extinguish the fire and moderately reduced the severity of the situation.
The operational plan for tomorrow (14 February 2026) will commence at 08:30, with another aerial survey flight planned to reassess the situation and develop a detailed firefighting strategy until the fire is fully suppressed. Mr. Suchart emphasized that all agencies must closely integrate their efforts to protect conservation areas and minimize impacts on local residents as quickly as possible.
