Fire Breaks Out At 52-storey Building In Ratchada

[Thanh-BKK]

Hi.

Anyone who happened to have seen the blaze on TV (television that is) knows that this fire happened on the outside of the building only. When shot from the non-burning side it was clearly visible the shine of the fire thru the windows - but absolutely no fire INSIDE the building itself. And that plastic coating on the outside wouldn't burn for all too long, then the fire would simply go out for lack of combustible material.

Still the fire would have been easy to put out if there was a fire hydrant (or a simple water tap) on the roof. All that was required here was run water down the burning side of the building - voila, fire out, fire department all heros. And since indeed only the outside was burning it would have been perfectly safe to use the elevators inside to get to the roof (if such elevators were installed and operational, i understand that the building was still under construction).

There sure must have been smoke inside the building and now the whole thing requires a thorough cleaning - most of the windows on the burned side are broken, but there certainly can't be too much structural damage - nothing that couldn't be safely patched up. This skeleton-type building is perfectly sound as long as it's interior support columns are undamaged, and no fire reached those.

WTC 1+2 were different stories - there the support columns were on the OUTside (plus an additional number of them in the core, yet none whatsoever on the floor space) and a large number of them were taken out by the crashing aircraft. Add the raging fire INSIDE the building to that, strong enough to weaken points in the steel structure, and together with the failed columns and the massive weight of structure above the impact points the buildings had no other way than to collapse. They would have collapsed even without the fire, but maybe after a couple of days - just too much of the supporting exo-skeleton (remember columns OUTside!) was taken out.

WTC 7 WAS massively damaged by debris from WTC 2's collapse, however what brought that building down was damage from internal fires that burned for hours and hours as there was no water to extinguish them. Those fires were fueled by the same stuff essentially as WTC 1 and 2 - not jet fuel but diesel/heating oil, almost identical in composition to Jet-A and burning at similar temperature ranges. Large storage tanks full with such fuel were inside the building to run emergency generators (there was an electricity substation in the building too) and that's what kept the heat up - up enough to damage the steel structure to the point it couldn't hold up and the building came down.

First in history? Maybe. But when in history did you have large fires burn for HOURS more or less undisturbed withing tall buildings? Fire fighters were there but after WTC 1 and 2's collapse there was no water in the area so what to put the fire out with? Nothing, the only thing to do is let it burn...... and as you can imagine, let a fire burn for a while and there will be damage.

Best regards....

Thanh

[burman]

Yep the building is owned by the wife of Thaksin, whether it was a message o her or not though who knows?

[Meerkat]

Yep the building is owned by the wife of Thaksin, whether it was a message o her or not though who knows?

The Bangkok Post has stated otherwise. Can you provide evidence that the building is owned by her please, as I can't find any.

[soundman]

Yep the building is owned by the wife of Thaksin, whether it was a message o her or not though who knows?

Do you have any proof of that? Couple of people in another thread are arguing this point at the moment & we would like to know one way or another.

[burman]

Ok, better take that back coz no proof. Lived near the building a few years though and always heard the same thing, so guess I was assuming it was the truth.

[ashacat]

Yep the building is owned by the wife of Thaksin, whether it was a message o her or not though who knows?

This is what I have been told by one of my Thai friends also. Would like to see some catagoric proof tho...

[John K]

I actually posted in both threads here and the “Exit polls results shows PPP wins” thread. Here because it is fire related, and there because the fire may have a political spin. I think the political side of this will last longer and investigation and discussions will come from there. At any rate it is a very interesting spin if verified to be true.

[meemiathai]

Police said the fire broke out on the 17th floor at 3 am and quickly spread to higher floors.

Fire engines took about an hour to control the blaze. Fire fighters could enter the building at about 4 am.

thats an amazing performance by the firemen.

to control that size of fire within an hour ..... well done.

Exactly what I was thinking!

I think it was just something flamable hanging outside of the building that was on fire. Otherwise impossible in one hour!

[meemiathai]

Actually the owner is TCC Group

Huge Ratchada fire

By coincidence, the site of the fire is virtually adjacent to land at the centre of criminal charges against Khunying Potjaman, wife of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned to Thailand to hear the charges less than a day before the fire.

Fires in abandoned businesses in Bangkok often are believed to be arson, committed for insurance reasons. Forensic detectives likely will closely investigate this fire for any signs of arson.

I am surprised no one talks about Thaksin here - this is unlike TV, which is full of Thaksin bashing with or without any chance!

his wife came to Thailand yesterday, and early morning today that building burs, huh?

[quiksilva]

Yep the building is owned by the wife of Thaksin, whether it was a message o her or not though who knows?

This is what I have been told by one of my Thai friends also. Would like to see some catagoric proof tho...

Your Thai friends are mistaken. It is owned by TCC (Thai Charoen (Yes THAT Charoen, of beer chang and mehkong whiskey fame) Commercial) Property , as I reported earlier.

[Tony Clifton]

Although I have no idea if right or wrong, my wife also says the Shinawatra family is connected to that building as some of her friends also say.

Don't you love what my dictionary suggests when Shinawatra is typed?

[siamesekitty]

"I did it MYYY WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY...."

[quiksilva]

Although I have no idea if right or wrong, my wife also says the Shinawatra family is connected to that building as some of her friends also say.

Don't you love what my dictionary suggests when Shinawatra is typed?

Hehe thats what the Man City supporters have been calling him

[Jai Dee]

Public Works department ask that Ratchada Tower owners submit repair plan within 30 days

The Public Works Office has asked that those responsible for the care and renovation of the Ratchada Towers, which recently experienced a fire submit their plans for repair within 30 days.

The Ratcahda Towers, also known as Cyber World, which comprises a 51 story building and a 47 story building recently experienced a fire on the 9th of January and sustained damage to the 10th floor and main lobby of both buildings as the blaze traveled along the rear side of the building. The Public Works Office has made a preliminary inspection of the two structures and stated that they pose no major danger as damage in the buildings was superficial.

Nonetheless, the office has requested that owners of the towers submit a repair plan within the coming 30 days that contains a detailed plan for public safety. The office has expressed concerned for surrounding buildings and passers by as the towers are located in a busy area of the city.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 January 2008

[BigSnake]

Never care to live in a high rise. Thank but no Thank!!