Fire in Chao Ram Cave: 300m of Fire Hose Needed for Bat Guano Blaze

[Georgealbert]

 

 

A challenging fire broke out in Chao Ram Cave, Sukhothai Province, fuelled by bat guano. Officials faced a steep 200 metre climb and had to extend over 300 metres of firefighting hose to extinguish the blaze amid risks from the toxic gases being produced.

 

According to Prayut Waiwong, Director of Protected Area Regional Office 14 in Tak, this incident marks the third occurrence of a fire in the cave. On October 30, park rangers first detected smoke from an opening above the cave. Due to thick smoke at the entrance of the cave, initial inspection efforts were halted for safety reasons.

 

Emergency responders, including the Phitsanulok Rescue Centre, after entering in protective breathing apparatus identified four to five burning areas within the cave. An emergency meeting was held at the Chao Ram Cave Ranger Station to strategise the firefighting approach. The meeting included local officials, heads of national parks, fire control officers, and Sukhothai and Phitsanulok disaster prevention teams.

 

The operation received support from Taling Chan Subdistrict Municipality, which cleared access routes up to the cave entrance, while Phitsanulok authorities provided additional breathing apparatus equipment and provided equipment training for responders, before they were allowed into the cave.

 

Atthapol Charernchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, attributed the fire to bat guano combustion due to high heat and gases produced. The response required extreme caution given the cave’s elevation and layout.

 

As of November, the fires have been extinguished using with water tankers supplying the over 300 m firefighting hose-lines to reach the flames deep within the cave. The local bat population remains unaffected in their nocturnal routines.

 

Pictures from responders.

 

-- 2024-11-02

 

 

[JoePai]

Someone should tell the bats they must not smoke in bed 

[Geoffggi]

7 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Someone should tell the bats they must not smoke in bed 

Come on have a heart, it's winter they built a fire to keep warm 🤪