Picture courtesy of SiamRath.

 

A large fire broke out in the early hours of the morning of 30 July, at one of the biggest bicycle sales and repair centres in Chor Hor subdistrict, Nakhon Ratchasima, causing extensive damage and prompting a dramatic rescue operation.

 

The incident occurred at around 04:55 at a two-storey commercial building located on Highway 205 (Suranaree Road) in Ban Nong Phiman, Moo 4, within the Chor Hor municipal area. The ground floor of the building housed a prominent bicycle and electric bicycle business, while the upper floor served as the owner’s residence.

 

Police Colonel Nathee Sukuna, superintendent of Chor Hor Police Station, received an emergency call reporting a fire and immediately coordinated with fire trucks from the Chor Hor Subdistrict Municipality, Khok Sung Municipality and Nakhon Ratchasima City Municipality to respond to the blaze.

 

On arrival, firefighters found smoke billowing from the ground floor, with flames spreading rapidly. Two people, identified as Mr. Khian 46 and his wife, were trapped on the second floor and shouting for help. A fire service hydraulic platform, was deployed and both were successfully rescued without injury.

 

It took firefighters around 60 minutes to bring the fire under control. Despite efforts to contain the damage, the entire stock of bicycles, spare parts and mechanical tools was destroyed. Parts of the building’s structure, including interior walls, sustained heat damage and developed cracks. Preliminary estimates place the total damage at over 3 million baht.

 

According to an initial investigation, the couple had been asleep upstairs when they were awakened by the smell of smoke. Upon investigating, they discovered the ground floor ablaze and were unable to extinguish the fire with chemical fire extinguishers and their escape route block, prompting a call for emergency assistance. Fortunately, the fire did not spread to the upper level, allowing for their safe rescue.

 

The cause is suspected to be an electrical short circuit, though forensic investigators from Region 3 will conduct a detailed examination to determine the cause.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamRath 2025-07-31

 

 

 

Those plants will need a bit of care to bring them back to life - just sayin'

They were lucky. I used to read about people dying in fires because there were security bars over bedroom windows (to stop burglars).

Mostly old people and maids who didn't have keys got trapped.