Dry-season fire warning issued for Phuket

PHUKET: Phuket firefighters issued a fire warning yesterday, following a field blaze south of the Heroines’ Monument on Thepkrasattri Road.

“This time of year, during the drought season, the grass fields get very dry and become fire hazards. People must be very aware of this and not throw away anything that could start a fire, such as cigarette butts,” Amnach Suthjit, a Srisoonthorn Municipality firefighter, told the Phuket Gazette.

An official warning was passed down from Bangkok to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket office last month, ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations, said Santhawat Riwleung, chief of the DDPM Phuket office.

“We had already sent the order out to local administrative organizations to warn them of fire-prone conditions and to have fire trucks ready at all times,” said Mr Santhawat.

After 20 minutes of battling the blaze yesterday, Srisoonthorn firefighters were forced to call for backup.

“After calling in three more fire trucks, we were able to stop the fire,” Mr Amnach said.

Though no property was damaged, there were tailbacks along Thepkrasattri Road, said Mr Amnach.

“We aren’t sure exactly what caused the fire, but people need to make sure that they are careful, especially at this time of year,” Mr Amnach said.

Mr Santhawat also pointed out that everyone should be aware of conditions within their houses, as short-circuits could quickly lead to house fires.

— Thawit Bilabdullar