Firebug caught burning forest in Lampang

Firefighters check that a blaze started by a firebug is properly extinguished at the Mae Chang forest reserve in Lampang's Mae Mot district on Tuesday.(Photo by Assawin Wongnorkaew)

LAMPANG -- A man has been caught red-handed with a lighter he used to set fire to a small forest reserve in Mae Mo district.

Prapat Luchaikham, 51, had set alight the Mae Chang forest reserve, which covers about one rai and 10 square wah 1640 square metres) near Ban Sop Mo village in tambon Sop Pat when he was caught on Monday by a forest protection unit.

The fire had destroyed about 40 square wah (160 square metres) when he was caught and the fire put out. Damage was estimated at 68,360 baht.

Mr Prapat was later handed over to Mae Mo police and charged with violating the Forest Act, Forest Reserve Act and Land Act.

He was the first arsonist arrested for burning forests in Lampang in this year's campaign against forest fires.

On Tuesday morning, Lampang was still covered by smoke from the fires still burning in the hills.

The highest level of harmful particles in the air was measured 154 microgrammes per cubic metre (u/cg) at a weather station in tambon Ban Dong in Mae Mo district, followed by 142 u/cg in tambon Phrabat in Muang district, far exceeding the maximum safe limit of 120 u/cg.