Huai Pla Lod: Wet firebreaks integrated with farmland, with donated equipment reducing the time needed to create firebreaks
The community of Ban Huai Pla Lod in Tak Province uses a sprinkler system alongside farmland to create 10-20 kilometres of “wet firebreaks” that stop fireballs blown in from the surrounding forest. Meanwhile, a leaf blower funded by civil society donations has cut the time needed to create firebreaks from 1 day to just a few hours.
Translated from Thai · reviewed by the CF team
Wet firebreaks integrated with farmland
Ban Huai Pla Lod is located in an area where agriculture, alongside the forest, is a key part of the village’s economic strategy. Villagers have worked together to create 10-20 kilometres of community-based firebreaks to stop fires spreading from the surrounding forest. What is particularly interesting is their use of a sprinkler system alongside farmland to create wet firebreaks that stop fireballs blown along by the wind.
Equipment from civil society that reduces working time
Donations from the Forest Guardian Project’s fundraising campaign were used to provide Ban Huai Pla Lod with a leaf blower. This equipment has reduced the time needed to create firebreaks from a full 1 day to just a few hours, enabling the volunteer team to extend the area covered by firebreaks more quickly in response to critical wildfire situations.