Fire Blaze Erupts at Chiang Mai’s Dhara Dhevi Hotel

[Georgealbert]

Picture from responders.

 

A fire broke out in the early hours of morning at the renowned Dhara Dhevi Hotel in Chiang Mai, sending bright red flames into the night sky and prompting a swift emergency response.

 

The blaze was reported at around 02:00 on 23 April, with rescue and firefighting teams immediately dispatched to the scene. Firefighters worked urgently to contain the inferno, deploying multiple appliances to tackle the flames and prevent them from spreading to other sections of the property.

 

 

Initial reports indicate that the fire started in one section of the hotel complex. Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the blaze or the full extent of the damage, though efforts to suppress the flames continued for approximately three hours before the fire was brought under control.

 

At this stage, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. Emergency teams remain on site into the morning, inspecting the area to assess damage and ensure safety.

 

The origin of the fire is under investigation, with forensic police expected to conduct a thorough examination to determine its cause.

The Dhara Dhevi Hotel, is known for its opulent Lanna-style architecture and serene surroundings

 

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod.

 

-- 2025-04-23

 

[Dcheech]

Gosh, I hope it's insured.    

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai: From Bankruptcy to Revival and Now a Devastating Blaze

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Once hailed as one of Thailand’s most luxurious hotels, the Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai has experienced a dramatic rise, fall, and recent attempt at revival, only to suffer a devastating fire just two months after returning to limited public operation.

 

Founded in 2002, the Dhara Dhevi was built in an opulent Lanna architectural style on over 148 rai, in the Tha Sala subdistrict of Chiang Mai. With 123 rooms and a construction budget of 3 billion baht, the five-star resort was once managed by the Mandarin Oriental Group (2004–2013) and considered among Thailand’s most prestigious destinations.

 

In late 2015, Inter Far East Energy Corporation (IFEC) acquired the property for over 2.5 billion baht. But following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the hotel was forced to shut down operations temporarily in May and filed for business rehabilitation in June that year. The request was denied, and the hotel was declared bankrupt in November 2020, leading to asset seizure and auction proceedings by the Legal Execution Department.

 

Multiple auction rounds followed. After several failed attempts, IThermal Power Co., a subsidiary of IFEC, successfully bid 2.01 billion baht in December 2021, but later failed to complete payment, forfeiting a 110 million baht deposit.

 

In January 2023, the hotel was auctioned again. Fierce bidding saw the price skyrocket by 80% within a year. IThermal emerged victorious, this time securing the property for 3.59 billion baht. In December 2023, a joint venture company, Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi Co., was formed to manage and redevelop the site.

 

On 21 February 2025, the resort hosted its first public activity in years: the “Kad Dhara Dhevi” weekend market. Located at the hotel’s entrance, the market aimed to revive local Lanna culture and attract tourism, despite the hotel itself remaining closed during asset reorganisation.

Drone footage on the morning of 23 April, showing the extent of the damage and destruction. 

 

The revival, however, has been dealt a tragic setback. In the early hours of 23 April, a fire broke out in the hotel’s wooden front structure. Emergency services battled the flames for over three hours. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the extent of the structural damage is still under assessment. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

 

The Dhara Dhevi, once a symbol of elegance and Northern Thai heritage, now faces yet another uncertain chapter. Locals and investors alike wait anxiously to see whether the historic site can rise from the ashes once more.

 

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Matichon.

 

-- 2025-04-23

 

[impulse]

That's sad.  And a little suspicious.

 

Looks like another victim of Covid policy.  Not Covid.  The policy.

 

[Georgealbert]

3 minutes ago, impulse said:

That's sad.  And a little suspicious.

 

Looks like another victim of Covid policy.  Not Covid.  The policy.

 

 
Total conspiracy theory nonsense. The investigation has only just started and here you are again making unqualified, uneducated statements, that have zero relation to the real world.

[impulse]

1 minute ago, Georgealbert said:

 
Total conspiracy theory nonsense. The investigation has only just started and here you are again making unqualified, uneducated statements, that have zero relation to the real world.

 

What conspiracy?   The OP says they went bankrupt closing down for Covid.

 

[Georgealbert]

14 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

What conspiracy?   The OP says they went bankrupt closing down for Covid.

 

Your opening comment ‘And a little suspicious’, this from the poster than sees conspiracy in everything. I remember the same nonsense after the Alaska Airlines door blow out.

 

This fire has nothing to do with Covid, the hotel has new owners, with a joint venture company, Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi Co. managing the premises since December 2023, read the full article, not just cherry pick the bits that fit your reality.

 

The investigation has only just began, yet we have a self confessed ‘wingnut’ making unqualified statements and trying to deflect the topic, just to suit their own agenda.

 

[Captain Flack]

Off topic deflection post removed. This topic is “Blaze Erupts at Chiang Mai’s Dhara Dhevi Hotel” not Covid policies.

[Gottfrid]

I guess the room rate just went down.

[hotchilli]

6 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

I guess the room rate just went down.

Or did it just go up?

[ChockyTheCat]

What a shame, I visited the hotel about 10 years ago and it really was an absolute masterpiece of Thai craftsmanship, absolutely stunning, it seems it has never been run properly and I’m sure it won’t survive yet another crisis !

[impulse]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

This fire has nothing to do with Covid,

 

Who said it did?   Read what I wrote.  Not what you think I wrote.

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Chiang Mai Hotel Dara Devi Ravaged by Fire – No Insurance Coverage, Site was Officially Closed

 

Picture from responders

 

The Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) Region 1 (Chiang Mai) confirmed that the hotel had no active insurance policy at the time of the incident. Moreover, the hotel is officially listed as “closed” and was not operating as an accommodation business at the time of the fire.

 

Earlier this year, the property saw a modest revival with the launch of “Kad Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai” on 21 February 2025, marking the first activity on the premises in years. The market event, held monthly in front of the hotel grounds, attracted significant public interest, offering locals and tourists a chance to shop and photograph the iconic exterior of the hotel. The main building itself, however, remained closed to visitors.

 

Mr. Suphan Sethapanich, Chairman and CEO of Siam Estate Dhara Dhevi Co., the firm behind the recent revival efforts, acknowledged that full restoration of the hotel would require substantial investment. The market initiative was viewed as the first step in revitalising the landmark.

 

The fire has now added further complications to the already challenging effort to rehabilitate the estate. With no insurance coverage and the property still under bankruptcy proceedings, the future of Dhara Dhevi remains uncertain.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Rath 2025-04-23

 

 

 

 

 

[Grumpy one]

The hotel had a rise a fall a revival and now a departure, what's next a supermarket

[Tropicalevo]

[connda]

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai: From Bankruptcy to Revival and Now a Devastating Blaze

What a coincidence, 'eh? 

[connda]

Deleted

[Gottfrid]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Or did it just go up?

Yep, that too, but now we are talking smoke dude! 

[flexomike]

1 hour ago, connda said:

What a coincidence, 'eh? 

wtf are you talking about, did you read the article, no insurance

[Freddy42OZ]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Or did it just go up?

 

In flames.