"Head Teng" attended the funeral of a volunteer firefighter in Mae Rim who died while on duty, revealing that central budget cuts have caused equipment shortages on the front lines. He warned that the dust crisis could continue until the end of the month.
On 4 April 2026, Mr. Natthapong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the People's Party, along with Mr. Somchit Kanthaya, Chiang Mai MP for District 5, traveled to Wat Sitthisongtham in Saluang Subdistrict, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai, to attend the funeral of Mr. Boonma Phadang, a volunteer firefighter who died while on duty. Natthapong expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family and said that inquiries with locals revealed Boonma was a dedicated volunteer who had helped fight forest fires every year. He added that this incident was unforeseen and likely resulted from accumulated exhaustion due to continuous hard work amid severe forest fire conditions.
Natthapong further said that during a visit to the volunteer firefighting center in San Pa Tong District, structural problems became clear, especially feedback from frontline workers seeking basic welfare such as group insurance and sufficient budget support from local administrative organizations. In particular, funding for firebreak construction is often reduced by the budget bureau every year, forcing volunteers to combat forest fires amid shortages of essential equipment. Meanwhile, the dust situation in northern Thailand is unlikely to improve soon, as the number of hotspots in Thailand has surged to 5,050, with over 13,500 in neighboring countries—a dangerous sign that toxic dust could persist until the end of April.
Additionally, the People's Party leader introduced the innovation called "Dust-fighting Mosquito Net," developed by the People's Municipality team, to be installed for vulnerable populations such as young children and patients highly sensitive to dust in Mengrai Subdistrict. He noted that the net is low-cost, only 1,500–2,000 baht per set, can be made from basic materials, and suits households that cannot afford expensive air conditioners or air purifiers. The People's Party affirmed its commitment to fully promote the Clean Air Act to address pollution problems long-term, while also accelerating appropriate budget allocations to local authorities to comprehensively support all aspects of forest fire fighting.