Probe Underway for Phitsanulok Underground Fire

PHITSANULOK: -- The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department and local environment officials in Phitsanulok Province have been inspecting an underground fire phenomenon which has been affecting locals and animals in Nakhonthai District.

Acting Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department chief Itsaraporn Sujano, along with local environment officials, visited Nongkratao Subdistrict in Nakhonthai District of Phitsanulok Province to determine the cause of the underground fire phenomenon.

A total of three locals have been injured while a number of cats and dogs have died.

The underground fire broke out over an area of 400 square meters on the Nakhonthai-Dan Sai Road.

A lumber mill used to be located there in 1982, and locals also used the area to burn wood in order to make charcoal.

Officials have blocked and put up a warning around the premises. Furthermore, locals have been advised to spray water on the ground to reduce the heat.

The cause of the underground fire has not been determined so far and officials have been asking for help from other agencies to determine the cause.

Locals are of the belief that the phenomenon was caused by recent earthquakes in Thailand.

They want officials to quickly determine the cause and put a fence around the area so that children and animals cannot enter the site.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-25

A Thai version of Darvaza? :>

http://youtu.be/Ws9W2J1OwyY

Edited April 25, 201214 yr by kotsak

No, that would affect the whole Country, wouldn't it? lol

There are places were coal veins have been burning underground for years, the town of Centralia, I think in Pennsylvania, USA, is rather infamous for that. If I remember correctly there is a big problem with slow burning underground fires in Indonesia too.

No oxygen, no fire. So where does the oxygen come from? Does any guru know?

No oxygen, no fire. So where does the oxygen come from? Does any guru know?

google pyrolysis dude

No oxygen, no fire. So where does the oxygen come from? Does any guru know?

google pyrolysis dude

Thank you. I am now in search of a conical red hat sporting a large upper case D to wear as I retire to the far corner of the forum.

High temperatures setting off fires underground

Mongkhonchaowarat Tangmangmee,

Wichit Meesawas

The Nation

PHITSANULOK: -- Relevant officials yesterday rushed to examine a spot in Phitsanulok's Nakhon Thai district where fire has reportedly been raging underground. The fire has also reportedly burned four dogs to death.

Last Saturday, resident Chatree Boonyarit also suffered from burns as he tried to rescue a dog in the area.

"Before that, another man was injured at the same spot. He said the road surface had collapsed a bit and there was a fire raging down under," village chief Natcha Saengsiri said. The spot has been cordoned off.

"We have used water to control the blaze, which is starting to rise to the surface," Phitsanulok disasterpreventionandmitigation chief Issaraporn Suchano said.

Somboon Kositanon, a senior mineralresources official, said initial examination suggested that methane from accumulated sawdust, weeds and dry leaves as well as heat might have caused the fire.

"It's similar to fires in the peat swamp forest in the South," he said.

In Uttaradit, a part of a road split under the summer heat with local residents saying they thought an explosion or an earthquake had taken place. The crack is 15 centimetres deep.

"It is possible that reinforced steel under the road caused this explosion," an official at the local weather bureau said. "The temperature has been well over 40 degrees Celsius for several days now."

The unbearable heat was also believed to have caused two deaths yesterday.

The first death was in Samut Prakan, while the second was in Ubon Ratchathani.

In Samut Prakan, 52yearold construction worker Boonplook Harnboon had seizure and died soon after she drank some liquor early yesterday. Her death was reported to the police at about 1.30am, and investigators believe that a combination of alcohol and heat had brought on a deadly heart attack.

According to her husband, Boonplook had a drink, took a shower and then drank some more before suddenly dying. The body will be sent for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of her death.

Dr Aree Tanbanyong, provincial public health chief in Phayao, said human bodies absorbed alcohol faster in hot weather, which means drinkers get drunk faster and some might even lose consciousness.

She said the common illnesses caused by the summer heat were diarrhoea, food poisoning, headache and heat stroke.

In Ubon Ratchathani, a blind man was found dead at a centre for people with disabilities not long after he complained about the sweltering heat. Police said no wounds had been found on the body of 64yearold Butrdee Sansee, who is believed to have fainted from a heat stroke and died from knocking his head on the floor as he fell.

-- The Nation 2012-04-26

exploding reinforced-steel ?

No oxygen, no fire. So where does the oxygen come from? Does any guru know?

Oxygen is from atmosphere. Methane / coal seam gas is from underground organic matter.

The fire is where they 'meet'.

"....locals have been advised to spray water on the ground to reduce the heat."

They should also piss on it, or await the next flood, for all the use it would be.

There is a similar situation in the Hunter Valley, NSW, just outside the small town of Wingen, famous for its total lack of English residents for fear of being labelled Wingen Pommies. I remember first seeing it circa 1957, and it is still burning.

Edited April 26, 201214 yr by OzMick

No oxygen, no fire. So where does the oxygen come from? Does any guru know?

The cause of the underground fire has not been determined so far and officials have been asking for help from other agencies to determine the cause.

Locals are of the belief that the phenomenon was caused by recent earthquakes in Thailand.

A old timber mill, a few years of debris forming over the top supplying a bit of pressure to damp saw dust and mill ends - presto spontaneous combustion.

One does not need to be a rocket scientist!

No oxygen, no fire. So where does the oxygen come from? Does any guru know?

google pyrolysis dude

Thank you. I am now in search of a conical red hat sporting a large upper case D to wear as I retire to the far corner of the forum.

And so you should you naughty boy, fancy not knowing what pyrolysis means.... ah, got any more of those pointy hats.

No oxygen, no fire. So where does the oxygen come from? Does any guru know?

The cause of the underground fire has not been determined so far and officials have been asking for help from other agencies to determine the cause.

Locals are of the belief that the phenomenon was caused by recent earthquakes in Thailand.

A old timber mill, a few years of debris forming over the top supplying a bit of pressure to damp saw dust and mill ends - presto spontaneous combustion.

One does not need to be a rocket scientist!

It would be interesting to know which other agencies they contacted, probably the local fire station.

If it's just a small timber dump they could probably dig it up and pump water in. I can't imagine it can be like the coal seam fires or like some huge waste dumps which also catch on fire and burn for decades. It all depends how much was dumped I guess.

No oxygen, no fire. So where does the oxygen come from? Does any guru know?

Oxygen is from atmosphere. Methane / coal seam gas is from underground organic matter.

The fire is where they 'meet'.

Means of ignition? My understand is that three elements are required for a fire, Fuel, Heat and Oxygen. Spontaneous combustion works for me. If one of the three elements is missing then there cannot be a fire.

No oxygen, no fire. So where does the oxygen come from? Does any guru know?

The cause of the underground fire has not been determined so far and officials have been asking for help from other agencies to determine the cause.

Locals are of the belief that the phenomenon was caused by recent earthquakes in Thailand.

A old timber mill, a few years of debris forming over the top supplying a bit of pressure to damp saw dust and mill ends - presto spontaneous combustion.

One does not need to be a rocket scientist!

Well... sure is news to me... and I'm not Thai : P

No oxygen, no fire. So where does the oxygen come from? Does any guru know?

google pyrolysis dude

Thank you. I am now in search of a conical red hat sporting a large upper case D to wear as I retire to the far corner of the forum.

And so you should you naughty boy, fancy not knowing what pyrolysis means.... ah, got any more of those pointy hats.

Move over fellas - I had to Google it too!

No oxygen, no fire. So where does the oxygen come from? Does any guru know?

Oxygen is from atmosphere. Methane / coal seam gas is from underground organic matter.

The fire is where they 'meet'.

Means of ignition? My understand is that three elements are required for a fire, Fuel, Heat and Oxygen. Spontaneous combustion works for me. If one of the three elements is missing then there cannot be a fire.

Heat comes from organic material breaking down. Landfill sites often suffer with these types of fires because as the materials rot they build up heat as well as forming combistible gases.

exploding reinforced-steel ?

Did you not know? And at 40 degrees very dangerous. Every Thai builder knows that. That is why they use as little rebar as possible in concrete.

Hmmmm...I'm thinking some enterprising Thai will set up a BBQ Dog stand/cart there soon?

No need to ship to Vietnam or Cambo!

'_'

Are there any peat bogs in the area? Where i come from they are not uncommon and have been known to catch fire and knowing the local people here who will burn anything at the drop of a hat.Once a peat bog catches fire they are very hard to extinguish and quite often it takes a large downpour to do that.

Beating it with a big stick - that should work.

"....locals have been advised to spray water on the ground to reduce the heat."

They should also piss on it, or await the next flood, for all the use it would be.

There is a similar situation in the Hunter Valley, NSW, just outside the small town of Wingen, famous for its total lack of English residents for fear of being labelled Wingen Pommies. I remember first seeing it circa 1957, and it is still burning.

That is Sulfur burning, has been burning for hundred of years maybe thousands, it is a hill on the right if travelling north on the New England Highway or Railway just near Wingen, back in the fiftys and Sixtys it was easy to see but not now, maybe be going out.

"....locals have been advised to spray water on the ground to reduce the heat."

They should also piss on it, or await the next flood, for all the use it would be.

There is a similar situation in the Hunter Valley, NSW, just outside the small town of Wingen, famous for its total lack of English residents for fear of being labelled Wingen Pommies. I remember first seeing it circa 1957, and it is still burning.

Not sure about the Wingen Pommies bit lived in that area for a bit , born near there, never heard about that.

No oxygen, no fire. So where does the oxygen come from? Does any guru know?

Go ask the folks in North West Pa....USA. They know all about underground fires...

There are places were coal veins have been burning underground for years, the town of Centralia, I think in Pennsylvania, USA, is rather infamous for that. If I remember correctly there is a big problem with slow burning underground fires in Indonesia too.

You are correct sir...Centralia, burns as I write...

"....locals have been advised to spray water on the ground to reduce the heat."

They should also piss on it, or await the next flood, for all the use it would be.

There is a similar situation in the Hunter Valley, NSW, just outside the small town of Wingen, famous for its total lack of English residents for fear of being labelled Wingen Pommies. I remember first seeing it circa 1957, and it is still burning.

That is Sulfur burning, has been burning for hundred of years maybe thousands, it is a hill on the right if travelling north on the New England Highway or Railway just near Wingen, back in the fiftys and Sixtys it was easy to see but not now, maybe be going out.

Wingen Pommies...? Are they related to the Ooompa Loompas...?

Are there any peat bogs in the area? Where i come from they are not uncommon and have been known to catch fire and knowing the local people here who will burn anything at the drop of a hat.Once a peat bog catches fire they are very hard to extinguish and quite often it takes a large downpour to do that.

Peat Bogs...? Here in Thailand...? Excuse me...?

exploding reinforced-steel ?

Did you not know? And at 40 degrees very dangerous. Every Thai builder knows that. That is why they use as little rebar as possible in concrete.

Ok...I almost passed by writing a comment here...I do hope you are making a joke...? It is hilarious if you are...Thumb up.

exploding reinforced-steel ?

I could not make this stuff up, no matter how hard I tried...The ignorance here (Thailand) is like a cancer...It almost makes me homesick...almost.