SRI RACHA, THAILAND – A major fire destroyed a warehouse storing wooden pallets and waste paper and badly damaged parts of a recycling facility in Sri Racha district, causing significant property damage but no injuries, authorities said.
Early-morning blaze sweeps through storage yard
The fire broke out at around 5:30 a.m. at a facility in Moo 3 under the Nong Kham subdistrict administration, according to police. On a site measuring six rai, about one rai of storage space holding wooden pallets and paper scraps went up in flames.
Fire crews from several municipalities, including Chonburi City and Laem Chabang, responded with four fire engines after the disaster prevention office raised the alarm. When firefighters arrived, pallets and waste paper in the open yard were already burning intensely.
Warehouse destroyed, forklift and building damaged
Within a short time, the flames engulfed the entire pile of pallets and paper, which burned rapidly due to the high flammability of the materials. A forklift parked nearby was completely destroyed, and the outer wall of a sorting hall at the facility was also damaged.
Firefighters said they fought the blaze for nearly an hour before it was brought under control. They managed to prevent the fire from spreading to additional buildings or neighboring areas.
Owner alerted by dogs and neighbors
The site belonged to Somsak Kulawachai, known locally as “Dan Sri Racha,” a former parliamentary candidate in constituency 7 for the Thai Liberal Party (Seree Ruam Thai). He told officials he had been asleep in his house directly adjacent to the facility when barking dogs and stones thrown onto his roof by neighbors woke him around 5:00 a.m.
“I ran outside and saw that the pallets were already on fire,”
said Somsak Kulawachai, facility owner.
He initially tried to extinguish the flames himself but then called the emergency number because of the intensity of the fire.
Police secure evidence and probe cause
Police from Nong Kham station, led by Pol. Lt. Thotsawat Phothisa, collected evidence at the scene and documented the extent of the damage. Officers announced further witness interviews and a forensic investigation.
Initial indications suggested the fire started at a small point on the edge of the pallet stack before spreading quickly. Investigators did not yet specify an exact cause, and the total value of the damage remained unknown.
No casualties, legal consequences under review
Authorities stressed that there were no injuries or fatalities. The ongoing investigation was expected to determine whether legal action or additional requirements for the operation would follow.
Fire risk at recycling facilities under scrutiny
The incident again highlighted the extreme fire risk posed by wooden pallets and waste paper, where a single spark can be enough to trigger a blaze. It raised renewed questions over fire protection, storage practices and inspections at recycling facilities, and whether existing safety regulations are sufficient or stricter rules are needed to prevent future incidents from endangering lives.