The 3rd Training of Trainers for Forest Fire Suppression, held from January 25 to February 6, 2025, in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, concluded successfully, reinforcing regional capacity and expertise in forest fire response. Organized by the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) in collaboration with the Royal Forest Department of Thailand (RFD) and supported by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the program provided advanced training for fire suppression practitioners from across the region.
As the training program progressed into its final stages, participants focused on intensive fire suppression exercises, including Fire Line Construction and Prescribed Burning. These practical sessions aimed to solidify the theoretical knowledge gained in earlier modules, ensuring that participants could apply advanced fire management techniques effectively in real world scenarios.
Advancing Regional Capacity for Fire Management
Building on the success of the 1st and 2nd Training programs, this year’s training introduced enhanced practical components, integrating lessons learned from previous sessions to further refine regional fire suppression strategies. The initiative aligns with AFoCO’s broader Forest Fire Management in Asia (FFMA) Initiative, which focuses on technology integration, capacity building, and regional collaboration to improve forest fire resilience.
A key feature of the training was the Fire Line Construction Exercise, a crucial forest fire control technique. Under the guidance of experts from France, Korea, and Thailand, participants practiced constructing firebreaks to contain and slow the spread of fires. The exercise included hands-on training in terrain assessment, strategic fireline placement, and operational safety measures, ensuring that trainees developed the skills necessary to execute these methods in real fire conditions. Participants worked in rugged terrain conditions, using a combination of hand tools and mechanized equipment to clear vegetation and create buffer zones. The training also emphasized the importance of coordination between ground crews and aerial firefighting units, reinforcing the role of effective communication in fire suppression efforts.
The Prescribed Burning Exercise was another major highlight, demonstrating controlled burning as a tool for forest fire prevention. Participants engaged in fire ignition, monitoring, and suppression activities, utilizing GIS and remote sensing technologies to enhance decision making. These controlled burns help reduce fuel loads, create fire-resistant landscapes, and improve ecological balance, making them a fundamental element of proactive fire management. The exercise included real time fire behavior monitoring using drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras, allowing participants to assess the effectiveness of firebreaks and suppression efforts. This technological integration, provided by the Korean Forest Aviation Headquarters (FAH), showcased the growing role of precision monitoring in modern fire management.
Closing Ceremony and Commitment to Ongoing Training
The training program concluded with a Closing Ceremony held at the Royal Forest Department in Bangkok, where participants were awarded certificates of completion in recognition of their dedication and successful completion of the program. To commemorate this significant occasion, Mr. Patpong Samittipat, Inspector General of the Royal Forest Department, and Ms. Virginie Font, Homeland Security Attaché of the French Embassy in Thailand, honored the event with their presence. Both representatives commended the trainees for their unwavering commitment to enhancing fire suppression capabilities and emphasized the critical importance of continuous education, capacity building, and knowledge-sharing to further strengthen regional forest fire management efforts.
By equipping fire suppression practitioners with practical experience, technological expertise, and regional collaboration strategies, this training program has directly contributed to the realization of the Forest Fire Management in Asia (FFMA) Initiative. The initiative’s overarching goal is to enhance regional fire resilience through capacity-building, technology integration, and policy advancement, ensuring that AFoCO Member Countries are better prepared to mitigate the increasing threat of forest fires.
As forest fires continue to pose a severe environmental and socio-economic challenge, AFoCO remains dedicated to building a well-trained network of fire management professionals. Through ongoing training, policy support, and regional collaboration, the initiative ensures that Asian forests and communities are better protected against future fire risks.
Submitted by Kiwon Kim, Assistant Program Officer, Capacity-Building and Evaluation Team
