Massive Fire Destroys Furniture Factory in Nonthaburi

Pictures from responders.

A raging fire tore through a furniture factory in Sai Noi district in the early hours of 15 March, causing an estimated 50 million baht in damages. Firefighters battled the flames for over five hours before managing to contain the inferno. Authorities are now investigating the cause, with an electrical short circuit suspected as the possible trigger.

The fire broke out at approximately 04:00, at the Ponsilp 889 Furniture Factory, located near Wat Seni Wong in Nong Phra Ngai subdistrict, Sai Noi district. The three-storey factory, covering nearly two rai of land, was filled with highly flammable materials such as wood and industrial adhesives, which fuelled the intense blaze.

Emergency responders, including firefighters from multiple local municipalities, deployed multiple fire engines in an attempt to bring the flames under control. However, the sheer volume of combustible materials made their task extremely difficult. The fire raged for more than five hours, with firefighters reporting three loud explosions during the incident. The intense heat eventually caused the roof to collapse.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported, as the factory was unoccupied at the time of the fire. However, the financial losses are substantial. The factory owner, Mr Kanin Tangman Ponsilp, 55, estimated the damage at 40-50 million baht, with over 10 million baht lost in machinery alone.

“I still don’t know what caused the fire. I arrived at the factory just after 04:00 to find it engulfed in flames. Thankfully, no one was inside at the time. We always prioritise safety, and we even turn off the circuit breakers before leaving each night,” Mr Kanin said.

He expressed deep regret over the incident, as customer orders that were due for collection later that day had been completely destroyed. Despite the devastating loss, he remained determined to rebuild the business, stating, “We must move forward. Money is just material; what matters is that no lives were lost.”

Rescue worker Mr Pongpol Phutan Yong, who was among the first responders, described the scene: “When we arrived, the fire had already spread across the roof. We couldn’t determine the exact point of origin, but there were two or three explosions, and then the roof collapsed.”

While authorities have yet to confirm the cause, an electrical short circuit is suspected. Forensic investigators will conduct a detailed examination of the site to determine the precise cause of the fire.

-- 2025-03-16