A Unique Fire Yesterday

[bonobo]

I was walking past the Lumpini Police Station yesterday right after the storm, and a fire truck was on the scene along with a group of onlookers. It seemed a powerline had caused a fire--in a tree. The main trunk of the tree had been allowed to grow up so that it was pushing against the line, so much so that the trunk looked to be actually growing around it. Then the rain must have short-circuited something and the tree was getting zapped continually and a small fire had broken out.

Things were so wet that the fire merely blackened a good chunk of the tree and a few spots were still glowing and smoking, but sparks kept shooting out. People were outside taking photos, and the firemen were standing around (waiting, I am assuming, for the power to be cut in the line) but passersby were walking right beside the tree and under the wire, stepping into puddles of water as they walked.

The tree was the second one from the sidewalk, and it bordered the little paved area in front of the station. The fact that it had been allowed to grow over the wire was surprising. The fact that the police and fire department were just allowing people to walk by under the sparking wire should have been even more surprising.

[CharlieH]

Not surprising in Thailand at all sadly, two words or phrase yet to reach these shores are "Health & Safety".

Just like the trailing extension cables, twisted together wires trailing all over the floors in the open-air markets, even when its raining.

or the guys arc welding with sun glasses for eye protection next to a swimming pool full of people.

The list goes on sadly.