Fire Breaks Out in Pattaya Condo

[Georgealbert]

 

 

A fire erupted at a condominium complex in the bustling heart of Pattaya, at approximately 02.30 on November 1.The incident took place in a condo building located on Pratumnak Soi 6, View Talay Residence 5.

 

Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene, and on arrival found dense smoke and flames issuing from the 6th floor condo 612, in the 7 storey building.

 

The building was being evacuated and external access to the fire was impossible, as it was overlooking the complex swimming, with no route available for high reach fire appliances.

Fire and rescue teams using breathing apparatus entered the building to search for any casualties and to extinguish the fire. To help prevent any external spread of fire, hose-lines were used from ground level, into the affected condo.

 

There were initially reported three injuries in the fire, two guests who were treated for burns and smoke inhalation and were removed from the building on stretchers and transferred to local hospitals. One emergency responder, Thaksin Thien Khao aged 25, also required hospital treatment after being injured by glass, as a window shattered during the incident, slicing open his arm.

 

Smoke also affected the staircases and several guests were seen waving for help from the upper floors. These had to be rescued by the fire service ALP (aerial ladder platform) set up on the road. Once on the ground they were given oxygen for smoke inhalation and transported to hospital as necessary.

 

The condo where the fire started was severely damaged, with heat and smoke effecting the communal corridors, but fire spread was mostly prevented to other units.

 

Officials are investigating the cause of the fire. Preliminary reports suggest the possibility of an electrical fault, although it is too early to confirm. 

 

Pictures and video from emergency responders.

 

-- 2024-11-01

 

  

 

 

[sungod]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

The building was being evacuated and external access to the fire was impossible,

 

From a balcony of a nearby condo? Just a thought.

[Georgealbert]

3 minutes ago, sungod said:

 

From a balcony of a nearby condo? Just a thought.

External access would have initially help to contain the fire and prevent spread or rescue anyone from the affected rooms.

Once breathing apparatus teams are set up for internal fire fighting and have hose-lines into the buildings fire main, it is easier to then attack the fire directly in the rooms of fire origin. Unless it is a large out of controlled spreading fire, external firefighting would then not be required.

 

Going into adjoining rooms risks unnecessary damage, water from hose-line and the doors would be wedged open by the hose and allow smoke into the unaffected rooms.

[sungod]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

External access would have initially help to contain the fire and prevent spread or rescue anyone from the affected rooms.

Once breathing apparatus teams are set up for internal fire fighting and have hose-lines into the buildings fire main, it is easier to then attack the fire directly in the rooms of fire origin. Unless it is a large out of controlled spreading fire, external firefighting would then not be required.

 

Going into adjoining rooms risks unnecessary damage, water from hose-line and the doors would be wedged open by the hose and allow smoke into the unaffected rooms.

 

I'm not arguing with you, its just that they think aerial platforms are the be all and end all here. Just pointing out there are many ways to skin a cat.

[Georgealbert]

41 minutes ago, sungod said:

 

I'm not arguing with you, its just that they think aerial platforms are the be all and end all here. Just pointing out there are many ways to skin a cat.

Sorry did not mean it sound like I disagreed, was just giving a technical opinion.

 

The problem with aerial appliances in Thailand, there is very limited access to most high rise buildings.

[sungod]

No worries, I see your point, makes perfect sense. My reply was meant to be polite saying I was not arguing with you!

 

I see the platform in Pattaya, its the shiny toy and they cant wait to wheel it out at every opportunity.

[PoorSucker]

No sprinkler system ?

Have that in condo.

[Georgealbert]

13 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

No sprinkler system ?

Have that in condo.

Not knowing the building, I do not know if this condo block has sprinklers.
 

A sprinkler system is designed to contain a fire within the unit of origin and protect others from the fire, which is what happened in this fire.
 

The same is also achieved by the building’s construction, with only the unit of fire origin suffering direct fire damage.

 

Sprinklers are not designed to extinguish a fire, although they often will. The effectiveness of a sprinkler system will depend on what changes have been made in the layout since installation and what furniture and fittings in fitted, so hence sheilding possible hazards from the sprinkler water coverage.

The time to activation of a sprinkler head will also depend on where the fire started. As an example a fire in storage in a bathroom would delay the system until direct heat or flame (normally 68C for a red sprinkler glass head) reaches the sprinkler in the main room. Bathrooms and small storage cupboards do not normally have sprinklers fitted in those areas.

 

Sprinkler also do not stop the spread of smoke from a fire, in fact there is a chance of a sprinkler controlled fire producing more smoke due to the burning material only smouldering and the lack of complete combustion.

 

All of this will be observed in the fire investigation, but it appears that the fire safety measures mostly worked in containing the fire, but not the smoke, which seems to have spread into stair wells, probably from doors being left or wedged in the open position.

[dddave]

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The problem with aerial appliances in Thailand, there is very limited access to most high rise buildings.

Isn't that actually a problem worldwide? So many videos of people on roofs awaiting helicopter rescue.  Even worse the videos of people with no option but to jump rather than choke or burn to death.

[jippytum]

I am suprised there was no mention of fire sprinklers in opertation in a building of that age.

My  previous condo was built 18 years ago and had them fitted. 

[Georgealbert]

49 minutes ago, dddave said:

Isn't that actually a problem worldwide? So many videos of people on roofs awaiting helicopter rescue.  Even worse the videos of people with no option but to jump rather than choke or burn to death.

Yes, no fire service will have external access to all floors in the highest buildings.
 

That is why the design and maintenance of fire safety measures and active fire prevention policies are so important.

 

Failure of either the active or passive fire safety systems, often leads to the loss of life.

 

I am from the UK and there London Fire Service tallest ladder is 64m, above that is out of reach. These ladders were only acquired after the 70 persons died at Grenfell Towers, again due to failures in both the external and internal fire safety measures.

[Dave0206]

Hi a bit off topic but do condo committee ensure that owners have sufficient insurance not just for there own property? 

I know the view talay projects have ridiculously low cam fees so funds set aside for any incidental work must be minimal