NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Toxic smoke from a burning rubbish tip blanketed areas near the Pak Chong Industrial and Community Education College in tambon Nong Sarai on Tuesday.
The garbage has accumulated on a 56-rai tract belonging to the Finance Ministry's Treasury Department, near Ban Non Pa Tiew village in Pak Chong district.
The land was formerly used by the army's Quartermasters Department. Pak Chong Municipality has been assigned to dispose of the growing pile of refuse and restore the land, which will then be returned to the Treasury Department.
The fire was first reported about 7.30pm on Monday. The cause was being investigated. Spontaneous combustion was initially suspected.
Sommai Kraochanthuek, the headman of Ban Non Pa Tiew, called the Nong Sarai tambon administration organisation for help. With only limited fire-fighting equipment on hand, the TAO asked for six more fire engines from the Pak Chong Municipality and two other TAOs to contain the fire.
Pak Chong district officer Surapan Silpasuwan and Pak Chong mayor Komkrit Limpanyalert went to supervise everything.
On Tuesday the fire was still burning fiercely, sending toxic smoke over Pak Chong district. It was expected to take at least three days to bring it under control.
In 2017, a fire at the same dump covered the area in foul smelling smoke. Fire fighters took about 80 hours to put it out.