Burning candle sets Phuket air-conditioning shop on fire

PHUKET: A burning candle set an air-conditioning sales and repair shop ablaze this morning in Rassada, north of Phuket Town, causing about 300,000 baht in damages.

Neighbors alerted shop owner Panya Chunchom, 34, of the fire after they saw smoke coming from the building’s third-floor window.

“We lit some candles as an act of worship and put them in front of a spirit house located on the third floor, next to the shop’s storeroom,” said Mr Panya.

“I think one of them fell onto an air conditioner below the spirit house and started the fire.”

Two firetrucks took about 30 minutes to put out the fire at Panya Air, but not before it had consumed 15 air-conditioning units and caused damages estimated at about 300,000 baht.

“Fortunately the fire did not spread to the house next door and nobody was injured. We have learned our lesson the hard way, and will not be lighting candles in the shop again,” said Mr Panya, adding that he hoped people would learn from his mistake.

“Thai people love to light candles during worship. Please make sure you don’t leave them unattended or in dangerous places – you could face a great loss.”

— Kritsada Mueanhawong