Inferno at Thai-Myanmar Border: 200 Seized Vehicles Destroyed in Devastating Fire

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures from responders 

 

A massive fire broke out at a customs impound lot near the permanent Mae Sot border checkpoint, destroying over 200 vehicles awaiting auction. Firefighters battled the blaze for more than three hours before bringing it under control. Authorities are now investigating the cause of the mysterious inferno.

 

The fire erupted on the evening of 18 March at a large, fenced-off impound lot in Ban Wang Takhian Tai, Tha Sai Luat subdistrict, Mae Sot district, Tak province. The lot contained nearly 800 vehicles seized by Thai customs and awaiting public auction.

 

 

Upon receiving the emergency call, local firefighters from Tha Sai Luat municipality, along with units from across Mae Sot, rushed to the scene. The local administration, soldiers from the Rachamanu Task Force, and other officials also joined efforts to control the flames.

 

Eyewitnesses reported seeing towering flames and thick black smoke billowing into the sky, visible from both the Thai and Myanmar sides of the border. Explosions were heard intermittently as the fire rapidly spread among the tightly packed vehicles.

 

Fire crews faced significant difficulties containing the blaze due to strong, shifting winds and the flammable nature of the vehicles. Despite deploying multiple fire trucks, the flames continued to spread, forcing officials to break through the compound’s perimeter fence to reach the source of the fire.

 

After several failed attempts to douse the inferno, firefighters had to combine water hose-lines, roof monitors and foam . It took more than three hours of intensive efforts to finally contain the blaze.

Preliminary reports indicate that over 200 vehicles were completely destroyed. Authorities have sealed off the site for forensic examination to determine the cause of the fire, with no eyewitnesses having come forward to describe how it started.

 

The Police and forensic teams are conducting an in-depth investigation to uncover whether the blaze was accidental or the result of foul play.

 

 

-- 2025-03-19

 

[gargamon]

You take my car? I'll show you. Try and sell it now!

[Peabody]

I've come to pick up my Toyota.
Here are the keys. Over there.
I've come to pick up my Honda.
Here are the keys. Over there.
I've come to pick up my Lamborghini.
Solly. Melt in fire.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Wow! I hope the Colonel managed to get the reserved Roller out in time.

[mfd101]

So these are vehicles seized from who? Illegal entries/migrants to Thailand?

 

As vehicles they are presumably confined to roads (well-defined or not), unlike their drivers. So how come they get entry in to Thailand in the first place?

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A massive fire broke out at a customs impound lot near the permanent Mae Sot border checkpoint, destroying over 200 vehicles awaiting auction. Firefighters battled the blaze for more than three hours before bringing it under control. Authorities are now investigating the cause of the mysterious inferno.

Someone who didn't want the cars sold and the proceeds going into certain pockets

[Sydebolle]

How can 800 cars end up in Mae Sot? I've been there and even crossed into Burma/Myanmar with my own car in 2018. Back then there were not 800 cars crossing the old bridge over the river and the traffic in Myanmar is driving on the right hand side of the road. 

Just curious; there might be closer parking lots available for all those "imports" - me thinks as the registration of such vehicles was done - in the past - usually in Sisaket or Ayuthya as the officers there might have been a little more flexible after someone forgot some little brown manila envelopes? Just wondering ........ 

[Purdey]

Hope no Teslas were involved.

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Fire Destroys Over 200 Seized Vehicles at Thai Customs Facility Near Myanmar Border

Pictures from investigation.

 

A devastating fire at the Mae Sot Customs Office in Tak province has destroyed more than 200 impounded vehicles, with initial reports suggesting the blaze was possibly sparked by a grass fire near the parking area. Strong winds are believed to have fanned the flames, causing them to spread rapidly and engulf the seized cars.

 

Authorities suspect the fire originated from dry grass burning near the vehicle storage facility before spreading due to high winds. However, the exact cause remains under investigation, with forensic officers from Tak Provincial Police expected to conduct a thorough inspection of the site.

 

Customs officials confirmed that all destroyed vehicles were used cars imported from Japan intended for re-export to Myanmar. These vehicles were being held at the border as transit goods but were later confiscated after failing to be exported due to the ongoing instability in Myanmar.

 

Mae Sot has long served as a key transit hub for second-hand vehicles en route from Japan to Myanmar. However, due to the escalating conflict across the border, including road closures, frequent armed clashes, and the bombing of key bridges, many shipments have been unable to proceed. Consequently, a large number of cars have remained stranded in Thailand, exceeding the legally permitted holding period, and were subsequently seized as state property.

According to customs officials, Mae Sot currently has over 1,000 impounded vehicles, stored across three separate locations in Tha Sai Luat subdistrict.

 

Prior to the fire, authorities had already attempted to auction off the seized cars but received no bids due to high reserve prices. A plan was in place to lower the prices and schedule another auction, but the fire has now complicated those efforts.

 

Officials have yet to assess the full extent of the damage or determine the financial impact of the incident. Investigators will now work to establish whether the fire was accidental or a deliberate act of arson.

 

-- 2025-03-20

 

[watchcat]

On 3/19/2025 at 10:53 PM, Georgealbert said:

A plan was in place to lower the prices and schedule another auction,

 

Newsflash for Thailand.