Huge fire at apartment building on Sathorn, Bangkok, one confirmed dead

[nowork114]

Google street view: https://www.google.co.th/maps/@13.7060894,100.5372224,3a,75y,327.23h,86.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1so2J5pCAa217Q65_UpDHnNg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Edited February 5, 2016 by nowork114

[sabaii69]

WOW!

Sad story for sure. There's usually an outside fire escape stairwell on both ends of buildings like this. Hope it wasn't blocked.

Years ago a fire in a high rise building in Jomtien killed about 90 people. Incinerated because the exits were locked to keep people from escaping and not paying.

[steven100]

I hope they had fire insurance.

[Prbkk]

I have to agree with the previous writer that there looks like a lot of very flammable material in the building for the heat generated

to collapse a floor. I have worked in the fire prevention business for some time & a normal concrete structure will not fail until the reo inside

the concrete gets very hot & starts to buckle. My heart goes out to those trapped, a frightening experience

The storage of flammable materials has happened before. Wasn't there a case of a couple running there printing business in a condo,or two condos, and a long battle to have them evicted. They were keeping all sorts of toxic, flammable materials inthe building. Not so long ago.

[bark]

Still wonder why some people are eager to take a picture or whatever (as seen in the short video) of something tragic like that? Is it for her on-line collection or what? Just Unbelievable!

I have to disagree. Especially in a country like Thailand, those pictures and videos going public are perhaps the very best means to force a shaming and to force change.

Yes agreed. If only something is done to change things. But still a good comment Mr. Canuck.

[jaywalker]

WOW!

Sad story for sure. There's usually an outside fire escape stairwell on both ends of buildings like this. Hope it wasn't blocked.

Normally access is blocked by building management for security reasons.

The one's I have seen normally have a chain link fence/gate on the ground level.

I can climb that, even it was topped w/ razor wire if a fire was on my heels, and surely some security guard or manager would open it if a fire broke out.

I was referring to 10 floors of laundry hung out to dry and such other possible blockages.

[bark]

Just wondering how many people on Thai Visa who rent Condo or homes, and have bought their own furniture, TV's ; clothes of course !,

have content insurance. To replace your valuables. Do they even have this type of insurance here ?

[jaywalker]

WOW!

Sad story for sure. There's usually an outside fire escape stairwell on both ends of buildings like this. Hope it wasn't blocked.

Years ago a fire in a high rise building in Jomtien killed about 90 people. Incinerated because the exits were locked to keep people from escaping and not paying.

Sounds more like a seedy hotel instead of an apartment/condo building where one pays by the hour instead of by the month, but it does remind me of the BKK nightclub fire where the emergency exits were all chained shut a few years back.

I think 90 people died, mostly in a stampede for the main exit instead of smoke inhalation.

[jaywalker]

Fire alarm went of in a BK hotel I was staying in a few years ago. I was about 5 floors up. I suggested to a couple of my fellow guests that we not use the lift but use the fire escape.

Of course when we got to the bottom it was locked.

The last 2 flights were caged in so there was no way around.

Happily it was a false alarm, and I had wedged the door on our floor open just in case.

Makes you wonder though.

You bring up a very valid point.

I understand you were in a hotel, but if you're going to live in a place like this, investing in a quality set of bolt cutters from the US or UK or Germany = NOT Thai bolt cutters that won't cut butter, (and perhaps a fire axe) ranks right up there with have a quality fire extinguisher handy.

[gandalf12]

Doesn't look like it had a functioning sprinkler system does it?

Oh wait, how stupid of me. No need for a sprinkler system in Thailand's residential high rises, right?

The intensity of the fire and the heavy black smoke suggest a significant amount of combustible materials with an emphasis on plastics and other petrochemical based items. I suppose that in a country where functional sprinkler systems, water pumps, , fire doors an and all that expensive life safety stuff isn't necessary, the need to consider an emphasis on fire resistive and retardant materials is unimportant. Amazing Thailand.

You're wrong, this is a mandatory must to have a fire alarm system, fire water pumps, and

sprinklers system in all high rise buildings for many years now, it could be that he system

was not working due to the laziness and careless of the building's technical supervisors,

it also mandatory to have one a year fire drill where all systems are checked and verified,

god only knows what slack people has let all the above to laps and dysfunction.....

What about Emergency exits? 10 floors up you are not going to want too jump

[stickylies]

The horror and my worst nightmare...

[Acharn]

Sadly Thai fire services would struggle with any building over 4 floors !

I've seen them in action at a second-story fire at the Ambassador Hotel ten or twelve years ago, and the men are both skilled and very brave. The fact that they are forced to use such incapable equipment is a sad comment on corruption here. Not only that officials steal, but that they block worthwhile activity unless they are paid off. There was one effort I recall to acquire equipment that could have reached the tenth floor, but the trucks were so large they could only be used in large streets like Sathorn, so the plan was scrapped.

[Acharn]

WOW!

Sad story for sure. There's usually an outside fire escape stairwell on both ends of buildings like this. Hope it wasn't blocked.

Normally access is blocked by building management for security reasons.

The one's I have seen normally have a chain link fence/gate on the ground level.

I can climb that, even it was topped w/ razor wire if a fire was on my heels, and surely some security guard or manager would open it if a fire broke out.

I was referring to 10 floors of laundry hung out to dry and such other possible blockages.

... surely some security guard or manager would open it if a fire broke out.

55555! You make the comedy.

[DipStick]

WOW!

Sad story for sure. There's usually an outside fire escape stairwell on both ends of buildings like this. Hope it wasn't blocked.

Years ago a fire in a high rise building in Jomtien killed about 90 people. Incinerated because the exits were locked to keep people from escaping and not paying.

If I remember rightly, that was also a hotel. And because of the height of the building specialist high reaching Snorkels and Turntable Ladders had to sent from Bangkok. Which brings me onto today's fire . The BMA had a very good fleet of 60m Simon Snorkel as well as 52m LTI Ladders. I guess that due to lack of Maintainence they are probably all off the run now, but without doubt both mentioned u it's would have reached 10 floor easily.

[CoreanoOzzie]

Doesn't look like it had a functioning sprinkler system does it?

Oh wait, how stupid of me. No need for a sprinkler system in Thailand's residential high rises, right?

The intensity of the fire and the heavy black smoke suggest a significant amount of combustible materials with an emphasis on plastics and other petrochemical based items. I suppose that in a country where functional sprinkler systems, water pumps, , fire doors an and all that expensive life safety stuff isn't necessary, the need to consider an emphasis on fire resistive and retardant materials is unimportant. Amazing Thailand.

Only took 2 posts until the Thai-bashing began....why am I not in the least surprised?

[bubba]

Right, so it looks like about three hours after the fire started, rescuers began "trying to enter the building". This is pathetic. As with what happened to me, they probably didn't even have smoke suits and respirators. Why? If anyone remained in there trapped by the smoke, God rest their souls now, although with proper equipment and proper training, they could have been rescued.

Think back of New York and 9/11. How many minutes did it take for trained, equipped (and brave) firefighters to enter the World Trade Building after it was struck on on fire?

[webfact]

UPDATE: One dead, five injured in Narathiwas condo fire
By Coconuts Bangkok


The fire broke out around 10:30am today. Photo: @Jeti_ya

BANGKOK: -- After three hours, officials managed to put out the fire at the condo on Narathiwas soi 18 after one person died and five were reportedly injured.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paripatra confirmed at 1:20pm on Facebook that the fire had been put out and one person died.

Khaosod English identified the deceased as Angkana Osiri, 65, who witnesses reportedly saw burn to death on the seventh floor.


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2016-02-05

[jaywalker]

The one's I have seen normally have a chain link fence/gate on the ground level.

I can climb that, even it was topped w/ razor wire if a fire was on my heels, and surely some security guard or manager would open it if a fire broke out.

I was referring to 10 floors of laundry hung out to dry and such other possible blockages.

... surely some security guard or manager would open it if a fire broke out.

55555! You make the comedy.

Yeah, I came to my senses and suggested a couple posts below that one that it would be a good idea to keep a quality set of bolt cutters handy if living in a building like this.

There's nothing comedic about this thread.

Grow up.

Edited February 5, 2016 by jaywalker

[NCC1701A]

in hua Hin there is a 28 story condo building that is 15 kilometers south of town. It is in the middle of nowhere with one long narrow poorly maintained road leading to it.

the building is more than twenty years old. the grounds are not kept up, the place is run down, and they are remodeling units on the 24th floor and selling them for big baht.

amazing ocean views when i looked at the condos.

i await the headlines.

Edited February 5, 2016 by NCC1701A

[jaywalker]

Sadly Thai fire services would struggle with any building over 4 floors !

I've seen them in action at a second-story fire at the Ambassador Hotel ten or twelve years ago, and the men are both skilled and very brave. The fact that they are forced to use such incapable equipment is a sad comment on corruption here. Not only that officials steal, but that they block worthwhile activity unless they are paid off. There was one effort I recall to acquire equipment that could have reached the tenth floor, but the trucks were so large they could only be used in large streets like Sathorn, so the plan was scrapped.

I remember that one. The place got gutted.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong (I may be), but wasn't the parking lot on one side so packed with cars that a mouse could barely scurry through, much less a fire truck.

My memory is fuzzy on the parking lot, but, we all know that every parking lot in BKK is always packed like sardines.

That was 2002 or 2003.

Edited February 5, 2016 by jaywalker

[gilbreth99]

Meanwhile 50 cops are arresting and detaining little old ladies for playing bridge in Pattaya.

[webfact]

Two killed and five others injured in the fire at the Sathorn tower



BANGKOK: -- The inferno at the 10-storey apartment building on Narathiwat Soi 18 killed two occupants and injured five others, the police confirmed late this afternoon.

Among the injured are rescue workers entering the burning building to help the trapped occupants.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/149724


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-05

[jaywalker]

in hua Hin there is a 28 story condo building that is 15 kilometers south of town. It is in the middle of nowhere with one long narrow poorly maintained road leading to it.

the building is more than twenty years old. the grounds are not kept up, the place is run down, and they are remodeling units on the 24th floor and selling them for big baht.

amazing ocean views when i looked at the condos.

i await the headlines.

Lived in a house off Sukh Soi 15 Banglamung once (opposite the Cholchan Resort Hotel) on the East Side once.

I could piss harder than the city water pressure it seemed, so I hope the place you mention is a bit more self reliant.

Also lived for a year in a 20 story hotel in Abu Dhabi, that had a large pool on the roof.

That was their sprinkler system, so hopefully the place you mention has a pool on the roof at least.

[Prbkk]

The other really bad fire was at the First Hotel on Petchaburi Rd, about 20 years ago. Completely inadequate fire system and it burned for hours and a lot of people died.

[jaywalker]

Two killed and five others injured in the fire at the Sathorn tower

BANGKOK: -- The inferno at the 10-storey apartment building on Narathiwat Soi 18 killed two occupants and injured five others, the police confirmed late this afternoon.

Among the injured are rescue workers entering the burning building to help the trapped occupants.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/149724

-- Thai PBS 2016-02-05

2 dead now. This is bumming me out.

Many questions need to be asked, lessons learned, how can we prevent this in the future etc...

Will it ever happen?

Doubtful.

[Prbkk]

These rescue workers are tremendous. They don't have the best equipment, they are not well paid but they have a lot of guts and their efforts are admirable.

[NCC1701A]

in hua Hin there is a 28 story condo building that is 15 kilometers south of town. It is in the middle of nowhere with one long narrow poorly maintained road leading to it.

the building is more than twenty years old. the grounds are not kept up, the place is run down, and they are remodeling units on the 24th floor and selling them for big baht.

amazing ocean views when i looked at the condos.

i await the headlines.

Lived in a house off Sukh Soi 15 Banglamung once (opposite the Cholchan Resort Hotel) on the East Side once.

I could piss harder than the city water pressure it seemed, so I hope the place you mention is a bit more self reliant.

Also lived for a year in a 20 story hotel in Abu Dhabi, that had a large pool on the roof.

That was their sprinkler system, so hopefully the place you mention has a pool on the roof at least.

pool on the ground floor. i am sure you know the kind of water pressure a modern pump fire truck delivers to a stand pipe system in a building.

i doubt the Thai fire department have anything near powerful enough or a water source large enough to deliver water that far up.

i hope i am wrong.

28 floor is a long way up.

[smedly]

pockets are deep and accept money more easily in Thailand than spending on any sort of standards or enforcing building controls

[Yann55]

Doesn't look like it had a functioning sprinkler system does it?

Oh wait, how stupid of me. No need for a sprinkler system in Thailand's residential high rises, right?

The intensity of the fire and the heavy black smoke suggest a significant amount of combustible materials with an emphasis on plastics and other petrochemical based items. I suppose that in a country where functional sprinkler systems, water pumps, , fire doors an and all that expensive life safety stuff isn't necessary, the need to consider an emphasis on fire resistive and retardant materials is unimportant. Amazing Thailand.

Grumpy, bitter, prejudiced, immature Thai-bashers are not necessary in this country either, geriatric, so why don't you run back to your country's safe rules and regulations asap ? I bet when you were there you complained about too much rules and regulations, about the 'nanny state' etc.

You can't know a thing about what really happened in that building, it's way too early for that, but who cares about being consistent and well informed when the goal is to be sarcastic and hateful ?

You're just like the two grumpy old fools in the muppet show. Wait, no, you're not because they were kind of funny.

[kokesaat]

Still wonder why some people are eager to take a picture or whatever (as seen in the short video) of something tragic like that? Is it for her on-line collection or what? Just Unbelievable!

Those people taking photos of ugly situations have helped police solve murders, police brutality, and helped track down the Boston Marathon bombers. Anyway, people in Thailand hire professional photographers for funerals.