A fire destroyed a two-storey wooden rowhouse used by prison officials in Lang Suan district of Chumphon province on Sunday night, police said.
Pol Lt Col Chatchai Nualjing, a duty officer at Lang Suan police station, said the fire began about 11.15pm.
The rowhouse, built about 30 years ago, had three housefronts and six rooms and was used as living quarters for officials of Lang Suan Prison.
Manu Thuamthong, the prison warden, said he was awoken from his sleep by the noise of the fire and had time to grab only a few valuables as he fled. There was nobody else there as it was a holiday.
Fire engines finally put out the fire, but not before the flames had destroyed the entire building.