SCB fire blamed on mosquito spray

Bangkok:- Investigators are investigating a lead that oil-based mosquito fogging solution is the likely cause of the February 7 fire at Siam Commercial Bank headquarters, police spokesman said.

“Crime scene investigators found the use of oil-based mosquito solution about 40 minutes before the fire,” Lt General PrawutThavornsiri said, noting the solution should not have been used indoor.

Workers relied on petrol to start the thermal fog machine before spraying oil-based solution on the 11th Floor of the SCB headquarters on Ratchayothin Road, Prawut said, citing the review of security cameras.

Shortly afterward, the fire broke out on the 10th Floor, the storage area for loan documents.

The police spokesman said the blaze had damaged all security cameras installed on the 10th Floor and that investigators have yet to re-enact how the fire started.

Investigators would also have to establish whether workers had entered and sprayed mosquito repellent solution at the scene, he said.

The investigation has already ruled out short circuit as a cause of fire as there was no electrical circuit at the scene, he added.

Doubts and wild speculations linger about possible arson attempt to cover up banking transaction scandal.

A former SCB bank manager is at the centre of the criminal investigation related to the Bt1.6 billion embezzlement at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.

The SCB headquarters boasts state-of-the art safety equipment and is the showcase of Intelligence Building.

But the fire has exposed serious flaws. Sprinklers failed to work. Automatic lock-down blocked fire-fighters from entering the scene.

One rescue workers died of suffocating, suspected to have caused by the failure of fire-escape ventilation.