Bangkok: Authorities are actively pursuing those responsible for the arson that devastated 1,700 rai of the Kaeng Krachan World Heritage site. The Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has launched an expedited investigation to identify individuals who illegally encroached upon and set fire to Class 1A watershed areas within Kaeng Krachan National Park. Efforts to completely extinguish the fire and prevent re-ignition are ongoing. There is an urgent need to identify the arsonists to ensure decisive legal action is taken. The local community's cooperation is sought to monitor the area and report any suspicious activities, as the perpetrators are believed to be locals familiar with the difficult terrain.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, announced that authorities have managed to contain the wildfire within a limited area of the headwater forest in Kaeng Krachan National Park, located in Phetchaburi Province. However, due to accumulated fuel, close monitoring is essential to prevent re-ignition. An intensive fire control operation is underway, utilizing helicopters to drop water in high-risk areas while ground personnel patrol and ensure that extinguished fire lines are fully out. Any detected hotspots will be immediately addressed, and firebreaks created to prevent further spread.
The wildfire began on April 10, 2026, when officials detected a hotspot near Ban Bang Kloi, Village No. 1, Huai Mae Phriang Subdistrict, Kaeng Krachan District. This Class 1A watershed forest area is steep and difficult to access, located approximately 4 kilometers from the village. Thirty park rangers, aided by community leaders, took over 5 hours to control the fire. Additional teams provided supplies and support through continuous rotations. By April 12, the fire was still spreading, threatening nearby communities, prompting an urgent mobilization of resources both on the ground and in the air.
On April 13, officials discovered clear evidence of encroachment on two main plots of watershed forest. The first plot revealed deforestation and the felling of three large trees, along with signs of a fire set to prepare the land for farming. This fire caused damage to approximately 1,700 rai of natural forest. The second plot showed seven more large trees felled, covering about 6 rai and 3 ngan (approximately 2.4 acres), but no evidence of fire spread into this area.
Given the challenging terrain of the Class 1A watershed forest where the incident occurred, officials suspect the perpetrators are likely locals familiar with the area, possibly residents from communities within the national park. An investigation is being expedited to identify and apprehend the culprits.
The actions taken by the arsonists violate several laws, including the Forestry Act of 1944, the National Forest Reserve Act of 1964, and the National Parks Act of 2019, as well as the Phetchaburi Provincial Announcement on Forest Fire Control. Offenders will face prosecution and be held accountable for the damage inflicted on natural resources.
Mr. Atthapol reiterated his directive for the head of Kaeng Krachan National Park to collaborate with relevant agencies to expedite the investigation and bring those responsible for the destruction of the World Heritage site to justice. He emphasized the importance of working with ethnic community leaders to protect the forest, act as informants, and report any wrongdoing, to sustain the abundance of the watershed forest collectively.