Blazing saddles: Heroic firefighters rein in warehouse fire

A huge fire erupted today at a colossal warehouse in the Chaiyapruek area, spewing thick black smoke into the sky and causing the roof to cave in dramatically. After several gruelling hours, heroic firefighters finally tamed the roaring flames.

In the dead of night, at 3am, today, October 9, Chaiyapruek Police Station officers were alerted to the inferno raging at the Future Thailand warehouse, located at 88/48 Soi Bang Plub 2.

Emergency services raced to the scene, with firefighters from Bang Plub Subdistrict Municipality, Pak Kret City Municipality, Khlong Phra Udom Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, and intrepid volunteer rescue teams all battling the flames.

Armed with over 10 fire engines, the firefighting forces took on the massive blaze at the sprawling warehouse, which covers a staggering four rai (about 6,400 square metres). Firefighters and rescue volunteers worked tirelessly to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring warehouses. Despite their efforts, the intensity of the blaze caused the roof to collapse, and the fire raged on for several hours.

One employee recounted the harrowing moments of escaping the fire.

“We were sleeping in the back room of the warehouse when we heard dogs barking. When we got up to check, we saw the fire had already spread rapidly.”

By 5.30am, the fire was finally brought under control. However, the side walls of the warehouse were leaning and at risk of collapsing, while the rear section and roof had already caved in. The firefighters had to proceed with extreme caution during their operations.

Warehouse fire

Another worker described the chaos.

“Everyone tried to run away. My partner tripped and injured her leg and she was taken to the hospital. We couldn’t determine the source of the fire, and the electric door prevented us from entering the building.”

Upon inspection, it was found that the warehouse stored various household items, including mops, plastic shelves, cardboard boxes, and other domestic goods. Additionally, a pile of burnt batteries, believed to be power banks and mobile phone earphones, was discovered near the workers’ quarters.

The police have recorded the incident and questioned the employees present during the fire. They are yet to confirm whether an electrical short circuit was the cause.

The forensic team will conduct further investigations to determine the exact cause of the fire. As of now, the extent of the damage is still being assessed, and the warehouse owner is expected to provide a statement soon, reported KhaoSod.

The blaze’s aftermath revealed significant destruction, with many household items and packaging materials completely burnt. The intense heat and flames left a devastating impact on the warehouse, making it a challenging task for the fire control teams to manage the situation effectively.