Fire destroys shops in Kata

KATA: Three small stores across from Kata Beach Resort were destroyed by fire yesterday morning. Pol Capt Chana Sootthimat of the Chalong Police Station told the Gazette that the fire started at about 9 am in a clothing store made of bamboo and galvanized iron. The fire quickly spread to an adjoining optical store and then further down to a gift shop. The cause of the fire is unknown, but the police believe it was a short circuit in the electrical system. “It could have been [arson], but we don’t think that it was,” Capt Chana said. “I heard that there were some problems with the rent, but if someone was trying to burn the place down, they would have done it late at night when everyone [in the area] was asleep.” The fire, which was put out within an hour, caused damage estimated at 400,000 baht.