Fire razes karaoke bar

PHUKET TOWN: A no-name karaoke bar on Soi Si Sena was gutted by fire last night. No one was hurt. Firefighters at Phuket Town Fire Station received an anonymous call at 7:52 pm from a man who said a house was on fire. Believing that lives were in danger, the station dispatched 20 firefighters and three fire engines to deal with the blaze. Firemen took about an hour to bring the fire under control. The blaze caused damage estimated at about 100,000 baht. A fireman at Phuket Town Fire Station, who asked not to be named, said that investigators believe the fire was started either by a short circuit or by a carelessly discarded cigarette.