Picture from responders.

 

An 85-year-old woman lost her life after being caught in a fire that swept through a sugarcane field in Ban Bueng district, Chonburi. Authorities believe the blaze was sparked when she attempted to burn waste, but strong winds caused the fire to spread uncontrollably.

 

At approximately 13:30 on 17 February, officers from Ban Bueng Police Station received a report of a fire in a sugarcane plantation in Map Phai subdistrict. Firefighters and rescue workers from the Sin Thammasamakom Foundation were dispatched to the scene, where they found the fire rapidly consuming dry sugarcane stalks left behind after harvesting.

 

Fire crews managed to bring the flames under control, but during the operation, they discovered the charred remains of an elderly woman in the middle of the burned field. She was found clutching a metal rake, her body positioned in a crouched posture, suggesting she had been attempting to put out the flames before succumbing to the fire.

 

Shortly after the discovery, Ms. Jittra, the deceased’s granddaughter, arrived at the scene and confirmed she believed it was her Grandmother. She told police that her grandmother frequently visited the field to monitor the crops and burn waste, despite repeated warnings from family members about the dangers.

 

“It seems that she was trying to clear the fire with her rake, but the strong winds must have caused the flames to spread rapidly. She may have been overcome by smoke inhalation before being caught in the fire,” Ms. Jittra speculated.

 

Mr. Suriya Phanbua, a firefighter from the Map Phai Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, said that his team had been alerted to the blaze and responded immediately. “We were dousing the fire when we discovered the body. As soon as we realised there was a casualty, we informed the police for further investigation,” he said.

 

Police believe the woman may have been overwhelmed by smoke before collapsing in the fire, making it impossible for her to escape. Given her age, she may have also struggled to react quickly to the spreading flames.

 

Forensic specialists have been called in to examine the scene and conduct a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

 

-- 2025-02-18

 

I think that this is the second or third person who has died like this recently.

Will people never learn.

Fire is dangerous.