Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A fire has destroyed a monk’s residence at Wat Hat Pu Dai in Na Saeng sub-district, Ko Kha district of Lampang province, with early reports suggesting an electrical short circuit as the likely cause.

 

At approximately 18:15 on 15 June, local police from Ko Kha Station received an emergency call reporting a blaze at the temple. Firefighters from Na Saeng Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, along with support units from nearby areas, rushed to the scene to tackle the inferno.

 

Upon arrival, the fire was already engulfing the two-storey building, which was partly constructed from wood, making it highly flammable. Despite the efforts of local villagers and emergency crews, the fire quickly consumed the structure. It took over an hour and half, for the fire to be brought under control, by which time the entire monk’s residence had been reduced to ashes.

 

The abbot of the temple, Phra Khru Choti, 56, was reportedly working on the ground floor at the time of the incident. According to Phra Palat Kiatichai Klawatcharasarn, deputy abbot of Wat Na Kaeo Tawan Tok and secretary to the district monastic chief, a local resident alerted the abbot after noticing smoke coming from the upstairs window. The abbot immediately left the building and called for help.

 

Unfortunately, the fire spread too rapidly for anyone to salvage any of the religious items or personal belongings stored on both floors of the residence.

 

Senior monastic figures, including Phra Khru Phisut Pattana Phithan, district monastic chief and head of the Public Works Committee for the monastic council of Lampang, have since visited the site. Monks and local community leaders have joined in assessing the damage and assisting in the aftermath.

 

An official investigation is underway, with the Lampang Division of the Scientific Crime Detection Centre expected to conducting a full forensic examination to confirm the exact cause. However, preliminary assessments suggest the fire was likely sparked by an electrical fault.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-06-17

 

 

 

"suggesting an electrical short circuit as the likely cause."

 

Aha.....Sherlock on the case immediately! Couldn't possibly be anything else I guess:))