KANCHANABURI: A woman was arrested on Saturday for setting a fire that burned down part of a forest in the Khao Laem National Park in Sangkhla Buri district.
Tewin Meesap, chief of the Khao Laem National Park, said that at about 3pm park officials noticed billows of smoke over a spot by Highway 323 near Moo 4 in tambon Prang Phle.
When the officials located the source, they saw a woman running out of the forest in a suspicious manner as the fire spread.
The officials detained her for questioning. The woman, a Myanmar national identified only as Mrs Lone, 41, admitted she set a fire to cook instant noodles. She said a sudden gust of wind caused to flames to spread, igniting the forest. Not knowing what to do, she ran out of the forest only and was caught by the officials.
Mr Tewin said the fire was brought under control after it had burned about 4 rai of the forest area.
The woman was handed over to Sangkhlaburi police for legal action.
It was this year's first arrest in connection with a forest fire, he said.