Picture courtesy of Khoasod.

 

A massive fire at a Bangkok furniture factory has yet to be brought under control, prompting city authorities to establish an emergency command centre near the scene amid fears the building could collapse.

 

The blaze, which broke out on the evening of 11 May, engulfed the KING furniture factory (operated by Siam House & Home Co. Ltd.) located in Soi Chalong Krung 55, Lat Krabang district. The site is a two-storey facility with an elevated structure and a basement used for storing materials and finished products.

 
 

Firefighters and rescue workers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation attempted to access the basement, where the fire is believed to have originated, but were forced back by extreme heat and thick smoke.

 

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt assigned Surachit Phongsingwitaya, Chair of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council, and Tharapong Phetkhong, Director of Lat Krabang District Office, to oversee the situation. A command centre has been set up at nearby Lampahong School to coordinate the response.

 

Initial damage assessments have yet to be completed. Once the fire is under control, officials from Lat Krabang district and Chalong Krung police will investigate the cause and calculate the cost of the destruction.

 

Mr Surachit confirmed that no casualties have been reported so far, as the fire broke out on a public holiday when the factory was unoccupied. He added that the facility contained a significant quantity of flammable materials, including plywood, plastic pellets, pallets and export-ready furniture, which likely fuelled the fire.

 
 

“The fire seems to have started in the lower level, but the heat and smoke have made it impossible for teams to access the basement,” Surachit said. “Smoke continues to billow from the structure, and the temperature remains dangerously high.”

Bangkok officials have deployed multiple appliances and LUF 60 remote-controlled fire-fighting vehicles to the scene.

 

Firefighters are working to bring the situation under control, although Surachit warned that the dense stockpile of flammable materials in the basement is making the task especially difficult. “We are aiming to resolve the situation, but the risk of structural collapse is growing due to the intense heat trapped inside,” he added.

 

Residents from several nearby housing estates have temporarily gathered outside their homes due to the thick, acrid smoke and radiating heat from the blaze, caused largely by the burning plastic materials stored within the factory, but have not needed to be evacuated yet.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-05-12.

 

 

UPDATE
Lat Krabang Residents Urged to Wear Masks Amid Toxic Smoke from Furniture Factory Fire

 

Picture from responders.

 

Residents of Lat Krabang and surrounding areas have been advised to wear protective masks due to lingering toxic smoke from the major fire at a furniture factory in Soi Chalong Krung 55.

 

The fire, which broke out on the evening of 11 May, has since been brought under partial control, but as of the morning of 12 May, heavy smoke continued to blanket nearby communities. At approximately 08:00, the Lat Krabang District Office issued a public warning, urging residents to wear face masks to protect themselves from hazardous fumes and particulate matter still present in the air.

 

Deputy Bangkok Governor Tavida Kamolvej visited the scene overnight to monitor the situation. She confirmed that large volumes of smoke had spread into surrounding communities, affecting residents with strong odours and fine dust. Local health concerns have grown as a result.

 

Bangkok Metropolitan Council Chairman Dr. Surachit Phongsingwittaya, along with Deputy Permanent Secretary of Bangkok Narong Ruangsri, also inspected the site on the morning of 12;May. They instructed all relevant agencies to expedite damage assessments and provide urgent assistance to those impacted by the fire, especially in matters of health and environmental safety.

 

Temporary shelters have been established for affected residents in the vicinity of the factory at the following locations:

 

Lam Phra Ong School

Wat Thippawas School

Wat Thippawas Community Child Development Centre

Lat Krabang Industrial Estate Office Auditorium

 

Emergency response teams are continuing to monitor air quality and provide support. Residents are urged to remain cautious and follow official safety guidance until the situation is fully under control.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-05-12.

 

 

UPDATE
Toxic Gases Detected in Major Furniture Factory Fire, Nearby Residents Urged to Evacuate

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has detected several hazardous gases following a large fire at a furniture warehouse on Chalong Krung Soi 55 in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district. The blaze, which broke out in a single-storey storage facility containing plastic kitchen furniture and sink cabinets, poses a serious environmental and health risk to nearby communities.

 

Authorities report that the warehouse contained approximately 300,000 kilograms of plastic pellets, which acted as fuel for the rapidly spreading fire. Two warehouses, including a basement storage level, were affected. Dense black smoke billowed into the air as firefighters continued efforts to control the flames.

 

The PCD conducted air quality tests using chemical vapour detection equipment at seven monitoring points within a five-kilometre radius between 11:55 and 1:00 on 12 May. The findings were alarming:

 

1. Community areas upto 5km downwind:

 

Tests in areas including Thiwphai Pattana Community, Thong Samrit School/Temple, Flora Ville Village, Thippawas Temple, and Sapcharoen Village revealed trace amounts of toxic substances such as formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, phosgene, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like methyl mercaptan and vinyl chloride. These were detected in low concentrations, not expected to cause immediate respiratory harm.

 

2. Locations within 150 metres of the fire:

 

At Lio Village and alongside the warehouse in Soi Chalong Krung 55, residents reported a strong burning plastic odour. Chemical levels here were considerably higher, with formaldehyde, methyl mercaptan, and phosgene reaching concentrations capable of causing acute respiratory irritation. Small amounts of VOCs including vinyl chloride and ethylbenzene were also detected.

 

3. Fire zone:

 

Personnel operating at the fire site were instructed to wear full protective gear and chemical filter masks due to the persistent release of toxic smoke from burning plastic materials.

 

Given the ongoing fire and smoke hazards, residents within a 200-metre radius were advised to evacuate. The Lat Krabang District Office has set up an emergency command centre and established a temporary shelter at Lamphaong School (Ratjamroen Bamrung).

 

The PCD has issued the following safety guidelines:

 

• Residents in affected areas should immediately relocate to upwind zones with clean air.

• Individuals experiencing skin or eye irritation should rinse affected areas thoroughly with clean water for several minutes.

• Medical attention is advised for those suffering from severe symptoms.

 

Authorities continue to monitor the situation and work to fully extinguish the fire. The fire is contained, but responders can’t access the smouldering areas, due the collapse of much of the structure. 
 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-05-12.

 

 

Now that is one hell of a fire

On 5/12/2025 at 5:34 AM, Georgealbert said:

Residents from several nearby housing estates have temporarily gathered outside their homes due to the thick, acrid smoke and radiating heat from the blaze, caused largely by the burning plastic materials stored within the factory, but have not needed to be evacuated yet.

Not the brightest thing to do.  

An 'act of god' well done, the fire is spread evenly throughout the factory.

1 hour ago, soalbundy said:

An 'act of god' well done, the fire is spread evenly throughout the factory.

Not really sure what you are implying.

 

The fire started in the basement used for storage. Picture below is from before the first arrival of responders.

 

 

Multiple firefighter teams were sent into the basement to try to reach the site of the fire, deploying handheld thermal imaging cameras to aid access.

 

Given the nature of the stored material, responders were forced to withdraw for their own safety, due to the amount of heat and dense smoke being generated.

 

Firefighting teams could only take up defensive external firefighting positions, as the fire grow unchecked in the basement and spread from the front of the premises to the rear. Remote firefighting vehicles, LUF 60, were deployed, but because of the layout in the basement were unable to access the seat of the fire.

 

Four hours into the incident the responders were faced with an out of control fire, video below.

 

 

 

With no lives at risk within the burning building, priority at that stage was to prevent the fire spreading to other structures from either flames, radiated heat or burning embers.

 

Thermal drones were used to map the fire spreading throughout the building. Image below shows fire development from the front to the rear.

 

 

The intensity of the fire caused structure collapse of the roof, walls and floors. No serious injuries have been reported and the investigation will take place once the structure is deemed safe and all smouldering areas are fully extinguished.

 

 

UPDATE
Toxic Blaze at Furniture Warehouse Prompts Evacuations in Bangkok Suburb

 

Picture from responders.

 

A fire at a furniture warehouse in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district has led to the detection of dangerously high levels of carcinogenic substances in the surrounding air, prompting authorities to evacuate residents within an 800-metre radius.

 

At 09:55 on 13 May, Industry Minister Mr. Akanat Promphan provided an update on the blaze, which broke out at a storage facility connected to a nearby furniture factory. He confirmed that carcinogens in the air had exceeded safe limits, posing a significant public health risk. No injuries were reported, but the deteriorating air quality necessitated an immediate evacuation.

 

Mr. Akanat said he had informed Dr. Prommin Lertsuridej, Secretary-General to the Prime Minister, in line with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s directive to prioritise public safety.

 

Officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and environmental agencies have been monitoring air quality closely. Initial findings suggest the fire was fuelled by plastic pellets stored in the warehouse, leading to persistent toxic fumes. Despite heavy rain, the fire remained difficult to control, requiring the use of fire suppression foam to contain it.

 

Authorities are also investigating whether the warehouse was being used for unauthorised industrial activities. The facility is licensed only as a storage unit, but suspicions have arisen that manufacturing operations may have been carried out unlawfully.

 

Mr. Akanat warned that if the facility is found to have violated its licence, operators could face up to two years in prison. The Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Interior will conduct a joint review of similar sites to clamp down on illegal or misrepresented industrial activity.

 

“We must address these legal loopholes and prevent unauthorised factories from endangering public health,” the Minister said.

 

The incident underscores the risks associated with unregulated industrial practices in urban areas and has raised calls for more stringent oversight of warehouse operations across Bangkok.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-05-13.

 

 

 

 

Why keep the firefighters there, just let the bugger burn til it collapses and fire goes out.

3 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Why keep the firefighters there, just let the bugger burn til it collapses and fire goes out.

Really! Maybe look after the pictures and how close other buildings are.
 

Water curtains and water spraying onto the other buildings will help stop the effects of radiated, convected and conducted heat. With no intervention by firefighters there is a high possibility that thermal damage and fire spread would be far greater and to multiple premises.