That's Nice to Print"
The toxic haze that periodically veils Thailand’s lower northeast has become a chronic crisis, a relentless cycle of smoke that undermines public health and the environment. A comprehensive analysis of burning patterns over a seven-month period—stretching from November 2025 to May 2026—paints a stark portrait of a region under siege by fire. Monitoring by the Regional Environmental and Pollution Control Office reveals that in provinces like Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Buriram, and Surin, the infernos are not merely random occurrences but a shifting, seasonal phenomenon.
The burning began quietly. In the early months of November and December, the fires were largely contained to scattered agricultural plots, primarily in the Phimai district of Nakhon Ratchasima. But as the landscape dried, the scale of the destruction escalated. By January and February, illegal burning had surged across the lowlands. In Phimai, more than 40,000 rai were scorched, while the Sikhoraphum district in Surin saw nearly 20,000 rai go up in flames. Soon, the fire line began to climb, encroaching into the vital forest reserves of Chaiyaphum.
The crisis reached its zenith during the peak drought months of March and April. In a single month, four districts in Chaiyaphum—Kaset Sombun, Nong Bua Daeng, Khon San, and Mueang Chaiyaphum—witnessed an explosion of activity, with over 200,000 rai of forest and farmland incinerated. While the arrival of the May rains provided a measure of relief, the habit of burning remained resilient. Even as the skies began to clear elsewhere, farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Nong Bun Mak district continued to clear over 20,000 rai to prepare for the next planting cycle.
Provincial data highlights a distinct geographical divide in the crisis. Chaiyaphum has emerged as the most critical concern regarding forest fires, particularly within its protected mountain ranges and national reserves. Meanwhile, Nakhon Ratchasima holds the grim distinction of having the most persistent burning throughout the seven-month window, driven largely by the residues of the sugar cane, rice, and cassava industries. In contrast, Surin and Buriram see sharp, localized spikes early in the year before the activity tapers off into a moderate spread.
Experts argue that the solution lies in moving away from broad mandates toward a more targeted approach to enforcement. The data suggests a predictable migration of fire: starting in the lowland rice and cane fields during harvest, moving to the foothills for forest foraging during the height of the heat, and returning to the fields for soil preparation in May. To break this cycle, officials are calling for seasonal interventions—cracking down on crop residue burning in Korat and Surin during the winter, followed by a total mobilization against forest fires in Chaiyaphum come spring. Only by synchronizing policy with the actual dynamics of the flames can the region hope to reclaim its air.