The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment urgently ordered a joint force to airlift wildfire suppression operations in the Kaeng Krachan National Park World Heritage Site and to collect evidence to prosecute a gang invading over 1,700 rai of watershed forest.
On 14 April 2026, at Ban Bang Kloi, Kaeng Krachan District, Phetchaburi Province, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, assigned Mr. Mongkol Chaiphakdee, head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, to lead an operation to inspect and control wildfires in the World Heritage area of Kaeng Krachan forest group. This was to prevent and address the ongoing spreading wildfires that had been detected since 10 April 2026. Hot spots were found in the steeply sloped Class 1A watershed forest about 4 kilometers above Ban Bang Kloi village. Kaeng Krachan National Park deployed 30 ground officers together with community leaders who trekked over 5 hours to control the fire, with an additional 30 personnel rotating supplies. However, the fire continued to spread through 12 April 2026 and threatened to expand into community areas. The Minister ordered all sectors to urgently integrate their efforts, supported the deployment of helicopter number 1110 to assist aerial firefighting, and instructed the establishment of firebreaks as well as strict investigation of wildfire causes to enforce laws decisively.
The joint field investigation uncovered two main violations involving forest encroachment, large tree felling, and forest burning aimed at clearing land for agriculture. The first area suffered fire damage over more than 1,700 rai of natural forest, while the second area, approximately 6 rai and 3 ngan, had fire that did not spread into the forest. Officials concluded the acts were likely committed by local individuals due to the difficult terrain limiting outsiders' access. These actions violate the Forest Act of 1944, the National Reserved Forest Act of 1964, the National Park Act of 2019, and the Phetchaburi Provincial announcement on fire control zones. Authorities have documented, seized evidence, and forwarded the case to Kaeng Krachan Police Station for investigation, aiming to prosecute offenders criminally and require compensation for natural resource damages.