Fire crews battling blaze at tyre recycling plant

Fire crews battling blaze at tyre recycling plant

Flames outline a fire engine at the scene of the blaze at a bunker oil production plant owned by VKP Energy in Kham Sakae Saeng district of Nakhon Ratchasima overnight. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)
Flames outline a fire engine at the scene of the blaze at a bunker oil production plant owned by VKP Energy in Kham Sakae Saeng district of Nakhon Ratchasima overnight. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)

NAKHON RATCHASIMA -- A fire that began at the bunker oil production facility of VKP Energy Co in Kham Sakae Saeng district on Monday night was still burning fiercely on Tuesday afternoon.

Smoke was still billowing over the area, but firemen said they had the blaze contained.

They were concentrating on preventing it spreading to two 200,000 litre tanks containing bunker oil. Four fire trucks were still spraying water around the tanks.

At least 20 fire engines from all local administration organisations in the area were called in to fight the blaze.

Two warehouses used for storing used tyres were confirmed to have burned down and a fork-lift truck had been destroyed.

Pol Lt Col Sangwian Truatnok, duty officer of Kham Sakae Saeng police, said the fire had been kept from spreading further.  He believed it would be completely put out some time Tuesday.

The fire started about 9.50pm on Monday inside the factory premises at Ban Don Yai in tambon Pha-ngat.

The flames spread quickly inside the plant, which is owned by Chainarin Panthaprasit, 60, and produces bunker oil from used auto tyres. (continues below)

Fire gutted warehouses at the VKP Energy Co tyre recycling plant in Kham Sakae Saeng district on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)

The flames were fuelled by the large number of tyres stored there for recycling.

One worker, Thanapat Nakpho, 36, suffered serious burns. He was admitted to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital and was being treated in an intensive care unit.

A preliminary investigation revealed the fire started when Mr Thanapat opened the lid of a furnace.

Forensic police were expected to be able to begin their investigation of the fire later today.

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