Devastating Fire Destroys Home in Chachoengsao, Burning ฿200,000 in Cash

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures from responders.

 

A woman was left in tears after a fire completely destroyed her home in Tha Takiap District, Chachoengsao, in the early hours of 4 February. Along with the house, a large sum of cash, totalling ฿200,000, was reduced to ashes.

 

Police Lieutenant Suniyan Pilli, an investigator from Tha Takiap Police Station, received reports of a house fire in Krabok Khu Village, Moo 18, Khlong Takrao Subdistrict, and immediately dispatched officers to the scene. Firefighters, local officials, and village leaders worked to extinguish the flames, which had rapidly spread from an upstairs storage room. It took around 50 minutes to bring the fire under control.

 

The homeowner, Ms. Phitsamai Suesat, 39, recounted the terrifying moment the blaze erupted. She had been asleep in another room when she heard crackling sounds from a room used for storage. She and her husband scrambled to salvage their belongings, but the fire spread too quickly. The storage room contained old mattresses and clothing, which acted as fuel, intensifying the flames.

 

The fire completely destroyed the two-storey half-wood, half-concrete house, valued at ฿1 million, leaving only a small carport standing. 

 

Other losses included:

 

• ฿200,000 in cash, which was burnt beyond recognition.

• One Vivo mobile phone, valued at ฿10,000.

• One old iPad, valued at ฿5,000.

 

Remains of the burnt cash.

 

Investigators suspect the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit in the storage room, where Phitsamai had left a mobile phone charging overnight. She confirmed that she does not suspect foul play and that the house was not insured against fire damage.

 

District Chief Amnuay Kasetsinnukul, along with local police and village officials, visited the site to assess the damage and arrange temporary shelter for the affected family. Phitsamai, overwhelmed by the loss, stood staring at charred banknotes, wondering how she would rebuild her life after losing everything.

 

-- 2025-02-05

 

[Classic Ray]

No bank account to keep the money? Who keeps 200,000 baht in cash lying around, unless you can’t account for where it came from?

[hotsun]

4 minutes ago, Classic Ray said:

No bank account to keep the money? Who keeps 200,000 baht in cash lying around, unless you can’t account for where it came from?

Seems common here actually, saw this same thing happen here a couple weeks ago. I dont trust thai banks either

[FlorC]

Very sorry for this woman. She must hate banks as much as I do. After the 5 months , it goes from 800k to 400k and keep it in cash.

[Peterphuket]

Yes that's a shame to lose so much money, yet I understand keeping money at home after all, banks cannot be trusted either and (at the behest of governments) invent new rules all the time.