Fire Engulfs Commercial Building in Ranong Market Area

A fire broke out late at night in a four-story, 14-unit commercial building in the bustling Ranong Thani Market area, Bang Non, Ranong City District. Firefighters battled the blaze for over five hours, managing to contain it before it spread further. The fire destroyed two units that housed a store selling Buddhist supplies and general items.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department of Ranong Municipality received reports of the fire around 22.00 on November 11. Local authorities swiftly coordinated with nearby municipalities and private companies, dispatching over 30 fire trucks to the scene to prevent the flames from spreading to adjacent units.

The fire reportedly started in units 3 and 4 of the building, which were occupied by a shop named Thooptian Thong, selling religious supplies and miscellaneous goods. The fire originated on the ground floor and quickly spread to upper floors stocked with inventory, leading to an immediate evacuation of nearby residents.

Despite the extensive firefighting efforts, the fire continued to rage. Firefighters brought in a crane with a cage, from a private company, to lift personnel and hoses to the second and third floors, containing the blaze to two units. Efforts to fully extinguish the fire were complicated by structural risks; the front awning and steel framework of the building posed collapse risks, leading to the use of heavy equipment to remove obstructive structures.

The fire, still active with many hot spots still burning, after five hours, was expected to be fully under control by the morning of November 12. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but significant stock losses were incurred.

Eyewitnesses described the incident as terrifying. A nearby resident said they noticed black smoke and heard what sounded like firecrackers from the direction of the store. Moments later, a power outage ensued, prompting an evacuation. Another witness, dining at a nearby restaurant, initially thought the smoke was from burning trash until they saw flames coming from the shop’s rear.

Ms. Kanathip Sukcharoen, Ranong’s Deputy Governor and director of the response team, later explained that the firefighting efforts successfully contained the fire to the two units. Authorities believe the fire was likely caused by an electrical short circuit, though an official investigation is underway.

Pictures from responders

-- 2024-11-12