AYUTTHAYA — A fierce fire ripped through this central province’s largest shuttle bus assembly plant in Bang Pa-in district on Saturday, damaging almost 20 buses with losses estimated at 20 million baht. No casualties were reported.
More than 10 fire trucks and almost 80 firefighters and volunteers were deployed to the Chalor bus assembly plant at kilometre maker 14 on the Asia Highway in tambon Ban Krod, said police who responded around 12.30pm on Saturday.
The fire spread quickly with sporadic sounds of explosions heard. Many buses were parked at the plant site which covers some 50 rai, along with piles of bus frame chassis asemblies.
Firemen raced against time to douse the flames, which took one hour to put out.
Almost 20 buses and many chassis and frames were burned. Initial damage was estimated at 20 million baht or more, said police.
Sathit Sathapornnirantisart, 58, a senior technician at the plant, said workers were welding parts of a bus when sparks from a welding torch fell onto the dry grass nearby. The flames then spread quickly to engulf a nearby bus and others.
The plant is owned by Chalong Thanyawan, widely known locally as "Sia Kae", and is the largest of its type in the province.