Oil-fed flames tore through a Bangkok auto parts warehouse before spreading into neighbouring accommodation. More than 10 hotel rooms were damaged as guests fled. Police are probing rival claims over what sparked the dramatic blaze.
A devastating fire that destroyed a Bangkok auto parts warehouse, damaged more than 10 hotel rooms and forced the evacuation of a fully booked hotel has sparked a dispute over its possible cause, with the business owner believing a discarded cigarette butt thrown from neighbouring accommodation may have ignited the blaze while the hotel firmly rejects the claim. As firefighters battled oil-fed flames for more than an hour, police, forensic experts and City Hall officials launched a major investigation that will now determine whether the inferno was caused by human carelessness or another factor, with CCTV footage, physical evidence and conflicting witness accounts all under scrutiny.
The owner of a Bangkok auto parts warehouse believes a discarded cigarette butt from a neighbouring hotel may have sparked the devastating fire that ripped through his business on Sunday.
However, the hotel has firmly rejected that suggestion, insisting there had never been a similar incident and saying investigators must establish the truth.
With the business closed for the holiday and no staff on site, the blaze spread unchecked before racing into neighbouring accommodation, forcing the evacuation of a fully booked hotel and damaging more than 10 rooms. Firefighters eventually brought the inferno under control after more than an hour. Fortunately, nobody was injured or killed.
Warehouse owner blames discarded cigarette as neighbouring hotel rejects claim before forensic probe
Mr Anawat Lanpromthong, owner of Rian Thong Auto Parts in Soi Ratchadaphisek 36, said he was away from the premises because Sunday was a holiday.
No employees were working when the fire started. He said the blaze appeared to begin behind his warehouse beside a neighbouring building operating as a daily and monthly rental hotel. According to Mr Anawat, he had previously seen a fire in the same area earlier this year.
Therefore, he initially believed a hotel guest may have thrown a cigarette butt from the building. He said he had previously raised those concerns with the hotel’s management. Nevertheless, he stopped short of making any accusation and instead urged police to conduct a full forensic investigation. He also confirmed his business holds a valid operating licence issued by the Chatuchak District Office.
In response, the neighbouring hotel strongly disputed that account. Ms Pae, the hotel’s 39-year-old building manager, said the property had never received any complaint about discarded cigarettes or an earlier fire.
She also insisted no previous incident had ever occurred. Furthermore, she questioned how anyone could reach such a conclusion before the investigation had even begun. According to Ms Pae, hotel staff even helped fight Sunday’s fire using portable extinguishers before firefighters reached the scene.
Response gathered pace as police, firefighters and district officials rushed to growing warehouse blaze
The blaze erupted shortly after 10 am inside Rian Thong Auto Parts in Soi Ratchadaphisek 36, Intersection 11, in Chan Kasem subdistrict of Chatuchak district. Initially, the Chatuchak District Office reported a fire at a vehicle repair shop.
Later, police confirmed the premises operated as a licensed warehouse storing used engines, vehicle parts and mechanical equipment. At 10.27 am, Pol. Lt. Phiphatphong Udkean, deputy investigator at Phaholyothin Police Station, received the emergency report and rushed to the scene.
Joining him were Pol. Col. Arthit Phromnok, acting superintendent of Phaholyothin Police Station, Pol. Lt. Col. Somporn Uppapong, deputy superintendent of traffic police, Pol. Lt. Col. Suphat Disara, patrol inspector, patrol officers, firefighters from Lat Phrao Fire and Rescue Station and volunteers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation.
In parallel, the Chatuchak District Office activated its emergency response. Firefighters from Bang Khen, Bang Son, Lad Yao, Phahonyothin, Bang Kapi and Bang Pho stations were mobilised. At the same time, district executives, municipal officers and administrative officials coordinated the emergency operation alongside rescue agencies.
Oil-fed flames gut warehouse before firefighters stop blaze spreading into neighbouring buildings
By the time firefighters arrived, flames had already engulfed the single-storey warehouse. The business occupied about one rai behind corrugated steel fencing. Inside were hundreds of engines and large quantities of used vehicle components.
Thick black smoke billowed across the neighbourhood within minutes. Meanwhile, flames raced rapidly through the building as old engine oil trapped inside the stored engines fed the fire. Consequently, firefighters immediately concentrated on stopping the blaze reaching neighbouring buildings.
Water streams were directed onto nearby properties while evacuation teams cleared surrounding accommodation. Guests staying at adjacent hotels hurried outside as firefighters surrounded the burning warehouse with hose lines.
Even so, the fire continued to intensify. More crews arrived as dense smoke rolled over the area. Eventually, firefighters contained the flames after battling the blaze for well over an hour. By 11.20 am, the Chatuchak District Office confirmed the situation was under control. Even then, investigators stressed that the cause remained undetermined.
The warehouse suffered catastrophic damage. Early assessments differed over whether the building itself had been completely destroyed. However, investigators agreed the contents had been devastated. Large numbers of engines, vehicle parts and equipment were consumed by the fire. Before long, flames spread beyond the warehouse boundary. Two neighbouring properties were also damaged.
Hotel guests escape without injury as police secure fire scene and begin detailed forensic investigation
YOU Hotel sustained the greatest impact. Prompto Condo Ratchada 32 also suffered fire damage. Windows shattered under the intense heat while balconies were scorched. Fortunately, firefighters prevented the blaze from sweeping deeper into both buildings. Most importantly, every guest escaped safely. No injuries or fatalities were reported despite the scale of the emergency.
Separately, police immediately sealed off the area for forensic examination. Officers began interviewing witnesses while specialist investigators prepared to inspect the point of origin. CCTV footage has also been secured as part of the investigation.
Ms Pae said the first warning came from a housekeeper who spotted flames behind the hotel’s motorcycle parking area beside banana trees bordering the warehouse. Immediately, the employee alerted management, reception staff and the hotel owner.
The hotel’s emergency procedures were activated without delay. Staff used electronic key cards to contact every occupied room because the hotel had been fully booked the previous night.
Guests were instructed to collect essential belongings before leaving immediately. At the same time, employees moved electric vehicles and parked cars away from the shared boundary with the warehouse.
Hotel closes for repairs as manager rejects cigarette claim and arranges refunds for displaced guests
According to Ms Pae, the evacuation was completed before conditions deteriorated. As a result, every guest escaped safely. Nobody required medical treatment. However, the hotel sustained significant damage.
One second-floor room closest to the warehouse was destroyed. Around 10 additional rooms suffered varying levels of damage. Windows shattered, curtains burned and furniture sustained heat damage. Following the fire, management suspended operations for about seven days while repairs and clean-up are completed.
On another front, the hotel began organising refunds for affected guests. Management estimated the process would take about two days. Guests due to check in later on Sunday were transferred to partner hotels. Monthly tenants are also being assisted through district office procedures. In addition, the hotel publicly apologised to everyone affected.
Asked directly about the warehouse owner’s cigarette theory, Ms Pae rejected it. She said the hotel’s balconies are separated from the warehouse by a considerable distance. Therefore, she argued any cigarette would have needed to be deliberately thrown.
She also noted that many guests are night owls who generally wake late in the morning. Moreover, she repeated that no earlier fire had ever occurred and no previous complaint had been received from the warehouse owner.
Bangkok officials inspect damage as access problems and burning oil complicated firefighting operations
Notably, Ms Pae later showed reporters the hotel’s fire safety systems. Smoking prohibition signs were displayed throughout the building and inside guest rooms. Designated smoking areas were also provided. Every floor contained coiled fire hoses and chemical fire extinguishers.
Bangkok Deputy Permanent Secretary Thaiwut Khankaew later inspected the scene and received operational briefings from emergency officials. He said the fire was believed to have started at about 10 am.
Firefighters arrived roughly 10 minutes later and immediately began suppression operations. However, narrow access roads slowed the deployment of larger fire engines. Compounding the problem, large quantities of oil-contaminated vehicle parts intensified the blaze. Those materials burned fiercely and generated extreme heat.
Mr Thaiwut confirmed that about 10 hotel rooms sustained damage. One second-floor room facing the warehouse suffered the worst destruction. Nevertheless, preliminary inspections found no structural damage to the building.
Instead, the losses were largely confined to windows, balconies, curtains and furniture. Afterwards, he said the district office would establish a complaints centre beside the hotel to assist affected victims.
Forensic investigators examine conflicting evidence as police work to establish the true cause of the fire
As part of the investigation, officials also examined the warehouse’s legal status. Mr Thaiwut confirmed the business held the required operating permits. Even so, investigators will determine whether any unauthorised alterations had been made to the premises.
Separately, he acknowledged concerns because warehouses and accommodation stand unusually close together in the area. Accordingly, the Bangkok Governor has instructed district offices across the capital to inspect similar developments and review their fire safety arrangements.
Meanwhile, Pol. Col. Arthit said investigators are carefully gathering every available piece of evidence. However, he stressed no conclusion can yet be reached. Officers must first receive the findings of forensic specialists.
Chiang Mai family home gutted by fire. Occupants escaped after woman of the house spotted smoke
Husband says farewell to wife killed in Lat Phrao fire as 34th victim, a 20 year old woman, passes away
Witness statements, physical evidence and CCTV footage will all be compared. According to Pol. Col. Arthit, several witness accounts conflict on important details. Therefore, every statement must be independently verified before investigators determine how the fire began.
Finally, forensic specialists will inspect the scene and interview witnesses before completing their report. Police stressed that the discarded cigarette theory remains unproven. Equally, the hotel’s rejection of that suggestion has not been verified.
Both claims will be tested against physical evidence. By late afternoon, firefighters had completed suppression operations and police had secured the scene. The investigation into the cause of Sunday’s dramatic fire is continuing.
Join the Thai News forum, follow Thai Examiner on Facebook here
Receive all our stories as they come out on Telegram here
Follow Thai Examiner here
Further reading:
Chiang Mai family home gutted by fire. Occupants escaped after woman of the house spotted smoke
Khon Kaen Police probing a pre dawn blaze caused by a charging EV that burned down a family home
Government sends strong warning to EV industry after a dramatic surge in consumer complaints
Thaksin wants higher excise duties on EV cars that are simply assembled in Thailand by Chinese firms
EV sector crisis as Chinese firms are trapped between lack of demand and government tax penalties
Thailand changes tack as EV revolution turns into a damp squib with warehouses full of unsold cars
Top Thai insurer says no more new policies for EV cars. Later, it emphasised renewals case by case
