Fire at Surat Thani car dealership causes 2 million baht damage
A raging fire tore through a used car dealership near Vibhavadi Camp Hospital in Mueang district, Surat Thani, in the early hours of today, leaving behind a trail of destruction worth over 2 million baht.
The dramatic blaze, which erupted at around 3.40am, today, March 14, sent emergency services scrambling to the scene as towering flames engulfed vehicles and the dealership’s office building.
According to police and firefighters, the fire originated inside the office before spreading rapidly to the vehicles parked within the premises.
Within minutes, seven cars and a pickup truck were ablaze, with thick plumes of smoke billowing into the night sky. Fortunately, no one was inside the dealership at the time, and no injuries or fatalities were reported.
Firefighters battled the flames and managed to bring the inferno under control within 15 minutes, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring car dealerships. Despite their swift response, eight vehicles were destroyed, with losses estimated at over 2 million baht.
Police are now investigating the cause of the fire. Initial reports suggest an electrical short circuit may have sparked the blaze, but forensic experts will conduct a thorough examination to determine the exact cause, reported KhaoSod.
The devastating fire has raised concerns among local business owners, highlighting the importance of fire safety measures in commercial areas.
This is not the first incident of such level of damage by a fire at a car dealership in the province.
Last year, a fire broke out in the early hours of November 5 at the Siam Charoen Yont car dealership in Surat Thani, causing extensive damage to five vehicles. The blaze, which erupted at a second-hand car tent in Makham Tia subdistrict, was swiftly reported to the police.
Police Lieutenant Phumiphat Jaiyen of Surat Thani City Police Station, alongside Police Colonel Nipon Chatri and local disaster relief teams, responded promptly to contain the fire. Upon arrival, they found flames rapidly spreading through the parked vehicles.
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