SAMUT PRAKAN: A 34-year-old man was burned to death in a fire that raged through workers’ living quarters at a sawmill in Phra Pradaeng district early Saturday.
The fire broke out at Thai Rungruangkit sawmill in tambon Samrong Tai, said Pol Capt Punnawitsawa Chaicharnbunyasiri, deputy investigation chief at Samrong Tai police station in Phra Pradaeng district, who was alerted at 4.30am.
Seven fire trucks were deployed to the two-rai sawmill compound. Upon reaching the scene, firefighters saw flames spreading quickly to workers’ living quarters behind the mill, where piles of processed wood planks were stored.
It took them more than one hour to bring the blaze under control. Four living quarters were burned to ashes. One worker, identified later as Panuphan Phorsriprom, 34, was found burned beyond recognition inside.
His father, Sudjai Phorsriprom, 59, told police that he went out to a nearby market to buy ingredients for his noodle shop before the fire broke out.
When he returned, he saw a fire engulfing his living quarters where he and three family members stayed. He immediately shouted to alert them. His wife and his daughter managed to flee, but his son did not. They tried to stop the fire from spreading, but failed, and alerted police.
His daughter, Kanya Phorsriprom, 31, said she was sleeping at the time and awakened by the smoke that spread to her room. She saw flames raging through the door, prompting her to shout to wake up her mother and her elder brother.
Police said a short circuit was the likely cause of the fire. However, forensic officials would determine the exact cause after they collected evidence from the scene.
Firemen take more than one hour to put the fire under control. (Photo by Sutthiwit Chayutworakan)
Fire crew members on Saturday morning continue to spray water over the debris of the fire. (Photo by Sutthiwit Chayutworakan)