Big fire rages through Bangkok squatter community

BANGKOK: -- A massive fire broke out at a squatter community in Bangkok Friday.

The fire broke out at the Sawadwari Srimaram on Soi Wat Khae in Dusit district at 11:40 am.

At press time, the fire has already burnt down 15 out of some 50 houses in the community and fire fighters are still struggling to control the blaze.

-- The Nation

Squatter community...as in 'Illegal housings'?

they are rather shacks from corrugated iron and pieces of drift wood.

another land owner clearing it's patch for skyscrape development?

they are rather shacks from corrugated iron and pieces of drift wood.

another land owner clearing it's patch for skyscrape development?

sadly, that is a very very real possibility

Sounds like the Suan Plu fire a few years ago. History repeats itself.

Yeah, there's no possibility that the fire was an accident since squatter communities are well known to practice the highest fire safety standards.

Can someone assist me with the exact location of this community/fire?

I'm having trouble with the location, searches online have not helped.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Not noted in the previous post...

I am aware this is where it was,

Sawadwari Srimaram on Soi Wat Khae in Dusit

but locating on a map has not been easy!!

Thank you again!

Sounds like the Suan Plu fire a few years ago. History repeats itself.

Was that around immigration? By Soi 8? I notice the old Google Earth maps have a whole lot more shanty towns in the area and now there are many more condos and construction sites.

Can someone assist me with the exact location of this community/fire?

I'm having trouble with the location, searches online have not helped.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I'm pretty sure this is Wat Sawatwari Simaram (วัดสวัสดิ์วารีสีมาราม). I can't find Soi Khae, but there is a Wat Khae Tai (วัดแคใต้). I don't see a soi with that name, but it might just be a really small soi and so may not be marked. That wat might be near Soi Khae.

Wat Sawatwari Simaram is in the center of this map (from Google maps).

Sorry there aren't English street names. I will try to attach an image of that map with Wat Sawat Simaram hilighted in red.

Regards.

-oev

Can someone assist me with the exact location of this community/fire?

I'm having trouble with the location, searches online have not helped.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I'm pretty sure this is Wat Sawatwari Simaram (?????????????????????). I can't find Soi Khae, but there is a Wat Khae Tai (????????). I don't see a soi with that name, but it might just be a really small soi and so may not be marked. That wat might be near Soi Khae.

Wat Sawatwari Simaram is in the center of this map (from Google maps).

Sorry there aren't English street names. I will try to attach an image of that map with Wat Sawat Simaram hilighted in red.

Regards.

-oev

Thank you so much!!

This definitely helps. I can manage without English names... in a way. I am a documentary photographer and plan to do a story on this event, preferably a cross section of a single family. Whether or not they choose to move back. Finding these communities is rather a challenge. I put out some emails to the editors of the Bangkok Post and The Nation, without any reply. Being from the U.S., a trip out there with limited time and no exact location... well, it would affect the essay I'm afraid.

Once again, thank you!! My first break!

If you or anyone one else has any further information, I would be indepted

Cheers!

Matt-

you can start a new thread in the bangkok forum.

just a few days ago there was another fire in the slams - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=152324

you might be more lucky to find an exact location and some leads to the residents

WOW!! sound a bit like California a few weeks ago.

not many thai do have fire insurance and not that much savings - certainly not the squaters

I doubt you can insure a stolen house...or a illegally built house on stolen ground.