Blaze Sweeps Nakhon Ratchasima

[webfact]

Blaze sweeps Nakhon Ratchasima

By The Nation

Fire yesterday ripped through 30 houses in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Thong Chai District, causing more than Bt100 million in damage and slightly injuring three people.

Pak Thong Chai market - in the heart of the community which has just recovered from a 30year worst flood in October - was hard hit by the fire, prompting officials to evaluate the fire fighting efficiency of Nakhon Ratchasima and nearby provinces.

Fire brigades from Pak Thong Chai District and neighbouring municipalities, including those from Nakhon Ratchasima, came to the rescue with more than 100 volunteers and firefighters and 50 fire trucks - but they had difficulties controlling the fire.

The fire erupted on the second floor of a halfcement halfwooden grocery shop in the market which has more than 50 wooden shops over 40 years old. About 25 houses were damaged in the fire. Many people watching the blaze hampered firefighting operations and officials asked them to clear the area.

During the incident, Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat and the Nakhon Ratchasima deputy governor took command of the fire fighting operation.

It took almost three hours before the fire was under control as flames swept through shops storing inflammable goods. Strong wind gusts aggravated the situation. The last fire to hit the Pak Thong Chai market was in April 1997. It damaged 60 houses and causing Bt100 million in damages.

In October last year, the Pak Thong Chai community was under two metres of floodwater for almost a month, its worst flood in 30 years.

Boonjong admitted the firefighting was carried out poorly. He has instructed officials to review their operations and check and repair their equipment in preparation for use in the future.

-- The Nation 2011-03-28

[bbradsby]

Great, a Minister and a Governor take 'command' of the firefighting operation. All should feel relief based on their extensive firefighting training & expertise. Will the common lack of fire-resistive construction in Thailand ever enter the media's glance? Fires will continue to occur, but they can be effectively contained via common building materials, systems & assemblies.

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PM Visits Site of Fire in Nakhon Ratchasima Province

The prime minister has traveled to Nakhon Ratchasima province to campaign on the government's welfare policies and to visit a local market that was partially destroyed in a fire.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presided over an exhibition on local community welfare in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

The event was attended by more than 2,000 local community leaders and residents, amid tight security from more than 200 police officers.

During his speech, Abhisit said the government has been emphasizing social and community welfare policies during its two years in power, to give Thais more security.

The premier boasted about the many policies initiated by his administration, such as welfare for the elderly and the disabled.

He said the government will now focus on improving the standard of living for average-income earners.

After his speech, the prime minister visited a local market in Pakthongchai district to inspect the damage from yesterday's fire.

The prime minister promised state assistance for the victims.

Initially, the government will provide each household affected by the fire temporary shelters and 10,000 baht in financial assistance.

The market faced a severe flood last year, and more than 50 shops were destroyed in yesterday's blaze.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-28

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Fire Demolishes Local Market in Nakhon Ratchasima

A fire has destroyed more than 50 shophouses at a market in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

The damage is estimated at over 100 million baht.

Some 50 firetrucks and more than 100 volunteers from local administration organizations in Nakohn Ratchasima's Pak Thong Chai and nearby districts rushed to help extinguish the blaze.

The blaze broke out at a local market in Pak Thong Chai district, destroying more than 50 shophouses, most of which were over 40 years old and were made of wood.

Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat, along with Nakhon Ratchasima MP Pranom Pohkam and Deputy Governor Suchart Noppawan, visited the scene to inspect the situation.

Firefighters spent more than three hours trying to contain the blaze, as the wooden buildings were built close to each other, and strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly.

Initial investigation found the origin of the inferno was at the second floor of a convenience store.

The damage has been roughly assessed at over 100 million baht.

Three people have suffered minor injuries.

This market faced a similar fire on April 29, 1997. Back then, over 60 shophouses were damaged.

The community also faced the worst flooding in 30 years last October, with more than two-meters of water.

Homes were inundated for nearly a month, and the area only fully recovered in the last few months before the recent blaze razed the community again.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-28

[JetsetBkk]

Great, a Minister and a Governor take 'command' of the firefighting operation. All should feel relief based on their extensive firefighting training & expertise. Will the common lack of fire-resistive construction in Thailand ever enter the media's glance? Fires will continue to occur, but they can be effectively contained via common building materials, systems & assemblies.

Don't worry! The PM's there. He'll sort it out and get a few nice photos taken.

Maybe his 200-strong police protection gang could lend a hand?

(200? Anybody'd think he was afraid of something. )

[rizla]

Sounds like a re run of chong chom market a few months back, guess what happend there? They got a shiny new market......Mmmm..call me cynical

[orosee]

30 houses is hardly "across" the city

Oh wait, it's The Nation

[Foggy Bottom]

Pak Thong Chai may be within Nakhon Ratchasima Province, but it is not within Nakhon Ratchasima City any more than Nong Ngu Hao (Suvannabhumi) is within Bangkok City. Three different news reports, and not one of the reporters looked at a map to check relative locations.

As for the politicoes ... well you can tell it's an election year.

Interesting though that first assessment of 25 houses damaged was 100 million Baht damage and that value didn't change when the number of houses jumped to 50 ... almost like someone had decided they wanted 100 mill out of the insurance or government ... hmm?

However, considering Pak Thong Chai is an OTOP Fine Silks & Silk Clothing village that has no real central market for tourists (especially compared to the way Chiang Mai province does such things) the thought does come to mind that this may have been a clearance to allow development of a shiny new tourist-focussed market-facility in the manner of Chiang Mai Night Bazaar or similar. Hope the fire department forensics people (I know ... I KNOW) thoroughly investigate why the blaze started.

Edited March 28, 2011 by Foggy Bottom

[louse1953]

Sounds like a re run of chong chom market a few months back, guess what happend there? They got a shiny new market......Mmmm..call me cynical

Didn't look "shiney new" to me,same hole as before with less shops,.....Mmmm,rose colored glasses.