Gold hunters accused of starting wildfires to evade arrest in Kanchanaburi

People illegally prospecting for gold have been blamed by national park officials in Kanchanaburi province for deliberately starting forest fires to distract attention from their activities.

More than 800 hotspots have been detected in Thong Pha Phum National Park this month, and many of the fires were allegedly started deliberately by illegal gold prospectors, according to Rachan Buasri, director of the 3rd Conservation Area Administration Office.

The park chief, Yutthapong Dumsrisuk, said the prospectors also occasionally fire guns to scare officials while escaping, adding that the forest fires are now spreading to Khao Laem National Park.

Helicopters and officials from other agencies have been deployed to contain the fires, he said, but admitted that many are burning in elevated mountainous areas that are difficult to access.

So far this year, 11 suspects have been arrested and charged with arson for starting forest fires.