Chiang Mai Prepares Plan to Cope with Heatwave and Dry Conditions, Strengthening Measures to Reduce Wildfire Risks and Community Impacts

The Chiang Mai Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, together with forestry agencies and community organizations, has unveiled a plan to prepare for hotter, drier conditions expected to intensify across the northern region this summer. The agencies held joint meetings to set out measures to prevent and mitigate impacts on residents, farmers, and the province’s key tourist sites. The plan covers wildfire prevention, early-warning systems, water management, and public health assistance.

A central element of the plan is building a cooperative network among volunteer wildfire prevention teams (OPP), forestry officers, and local communities to improve detection of heat hotspots and enable prompt initial firefighting. The province has identified high-risk areas—such as forests on the outskirts of the city, western mountain ranges, and zones where agricultural burning is practiced—and will increase patrols in those locations. Moisture monitoring stations and wildfire watch stations will be installed to provide advance warnings.

On water management, the province has invited relevant agencies to jointly plan the management of public water sources, especially in tourist areas and communities that rely mainly on rainwater. The plan promotes digging reserve wells, installing rainwater-capture systems at schools and temples, and advising farmers on adjusting cropping methods and using water more efficiently to reduce long-term damage risk. The plan also promotes reforestation projects and creation of natural firebreaks through planting of ground-cover species.

Public health measures are another key part of the plan. The Provincial Public Health Office has prepared to deploy mobile clinics to assess and treat people and provide guidance on preventing heat-related impacts—such as dehydration, heat rash, and respiratory problems from smoke and dust. Drinking water and basic first-aid kits will be distributed to communities along tourist routes and to remote agricultural areas. Local hospitals are being coordinated to prepare for a potential rise in heat-related patients during heatwaves.

Chiang Mai’s tourism authorities advise visitors to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day, stay well hydrated, wear lightweight clothing, and follow local official warnings. Tourism operators expressed concern that heat and wildfires could diminish visitor experiences and affect income, but agreed that prevention plans and advance communication will help businesses and tourists adapt more quickly.

Looking longer term, officials and civil society agree on the need to raise awareness of natural resource management and to develop infrastructure to cope with changing climate conditions—such as wetland restoration, promotion of drought-resilient farming systems, and application of wildfire monitoring technologies. Chiang Mai province aims for these measures to reduce damage from wildfires and heatwaves, enabling communities and the tourism sector to carry on activities more safely in the future.