An elderly woman suffocated in a fire that broke out at a three-storey commercial building in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi province early Sunday, police said.
Pol Lt Sanchart Sawasdipol, the duty officer at Pak Kret police station, said the fire started at about 1pm on the lower floor of a shop of the commercial building which has three shop fronts.
Seven fire engines from the Pak Kret municipality were able to bring the fire under control in about 45 minutes. The fire did not spread to nearby shops.
Rescue workers found Chusri Sirithanapirom, 80, the shop owner, lying unconscious on the staircase to the second floor. Three dogs were also found dead near the woman.
Mrs Chusri was admitted to Cholaprathan Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Police were investigating to find the cause of the fire.