Mystery Blaze Hits Closed Chinese-Owned Metal Plant

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

A fire broke out in the early hours of 7 December at a shuttered Chinese-owned metal smelting factory in Prachinburi, alarming residents of Sri Maha Phote district as thick black smoke rose for hours. Fire crews struggled to control the flames inside the CRT Metal Co. facility, which had previously been ordered to close and was under legal action for allegedly operating without permission. The blaze ignited piles of smelting waste, raising concerns over potential environmental and legal implications.

The fire began around 01:00 at a site in Ban Nong Hoi, within Si Maha Pho subdistrict, after officials received reports of a large blaze inside a factory involved in processing electronic scrap. Responding teams found intense flames spreading rapidly through mounds of slag, waste from metal smelting, stored across the premises. The area was secured behind locked gates, with no personnel present inside at the time.

CRT Metal Co., a Chinese-funded firm, had been shut down pending legal proceedings related to unauthorised smelting activities. Investigators discovered extensive quantities of slag, plastic waste and electronic components, with several hundred sacks of material stored throughout the compound. Firefighters deployed multiple fire trucks, but the slag proved difficult to extinguish because of its dried, soil-like texture and sulphur content, which can cause prolonged, hard-to-control combustion.

Residents expressed concern as the flames continued to burn while dense smoke drifted overhead. Officials noted that the fire had not reached nearby piles of plastic and electronic waste, preventing a potentially more dangerous escalation. The presence of large volumes of seized materials, classified as evidence in an ongoing case, added to worries about whether the blaze was accidental or deliberate.

Authorities reported that determining the precise cause remained impossible at this stage due to restricted access and the factory’s secured perimeter. The incident followed another fire two to three days earlier at an electronic-waste pit in the surrounding area, prompting renewed suspicion that evidence may have been intentionally destroyed. Agencies have been instructed to conduct a thorough inspection of the site once conditions allow.

Daily News reported that investigators will now assess structural safety, environmental impacts and whether criminal intent is involved. Officials are expected to review surveillance data, examine waste samples and confirm whether the destroyed materials formed part of the active legal case. Further announcements are anticipated once the fire scene is deemed safe for full forensic examination.

Key Takeaways

• A fire erupted on 7 December at the closed CRT Metal Co. plant in Prachin Buri, burning slag and electronic-waste materials.

• The facility had been shut and was under legal action, raising concerns over potential evidence destruction.

• Authorities will inspect the site to determine the fire’s cause and assess environmental and legal implications.

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 Adapted  by  Asean Now from Dailynews 2025-12-07