Firefighters tackled a raging forest fire 'caused by agricultural burning' that broke out near a village in Thailand.

Cops received a report that the blaze was tearing through woodland behind the Chok Bunmee village in Phetchaburi province bordering Myanmar on Thursday evening, June 15.

Two fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, where walls of flame razed the forest and sent plumes of billowing dark smoke into the sky.

Ash and soot rained down like black snow as the officers battled to stop the inferno rapidly spreading due to strong winds.

The flames were extinguished after two hours, and had destroyed more than 40 acres of forest, officials said.

Firefighters said the blaze had charred the outer walls of the village, with more than 10 homes affected. There were no casualties reported.

Authorities believe the fire may have been deliberately set by farmers hoping to clear their land cheaply. They said the offense may be punished with fines ranging from 400,000 to 2 million THB (11,544 to 72,150 USD), imprisonment of between four to 20 years, or both.