Deadly mystery at a luxury Nonthaburi home as a crypto-trader couple and about 30 cats perish in flames. Police find petrol stains, a charcoal stove and fuel container remains, while fire crews report repeated blasts. Rescuers save two cats with CPR.
A man and woman, described by a neighbour as cryptocurrency traders, died with about 30 pet cats in a fierce midnight fire at a luxury Nonthaburi estate early Monday. Firefighters faced repeated blasts before finding the severely burned couple together in their second-floor bedroom. Nearby lay a charcoal stove and the remains of a 20-litre petrol container. Police also found petrol stains splashed throughout the premises, although the first floor escaped fire damage. A neighbour reported hearing a loud noise shortly before the blaze. Meanwhile, rescuers performed CPR on cats pulled from the house, saving two. Police have not determined the cause and are examining the fire scene, witness accounts and evidence recovered from the scene.
A man and woman died alongside about 30 pet cats in a fierce Nonthaburi house fire early Monday. Two cats survived after rescuers performed cardio pulmonary resuscitation outside the burning property. Inside, firefighters encountered flames, a large fuel container and repeated blasts. Later, police found a charcoal stove and petrol container remains beside the badly burned couple.
Notably, investigators also reported petrol stains splashed throughout the premises. Yet the first floor itself escaped fire damage. The couple were found together on a bed inside their second-floor bedroom. Their identities had not been confirmed because their bodies were severely burned.
The emergency began at about 12.10 am inside a luxury housing estate in Nonthaburi. The property stands on Ratchaphruek-Nonthaburi 1 Road in tambon Bang Si Muang. It is in Muang district and covers about 320 square metres.
Four fire engines battle fierce second-floor house blaze as crews encounter a large fuel container
Pol Lt Alongkorn Meesri received the initial report at Bang Si Muang Police Station. He is the station’s deputy investigation inspector. In response, firefighters and rescue workers were immediately dispatched to the estate.
On arrival, crews found the two-storey house ablaze, with flames engulfing the second floor. Four fire engines were deployed as firefighters attacked the upper level. Meanwhile, crews fought to prevent the flames from spreading further through the property.
Ruamkatanyu Foundation firefighter Jam Laotoom, 45, was among those battling the fire. He said crews noticed flames spreading towards a second-floor bedroom while directing water onto the blaze. As a result, firefighters climbed a ladder to investigate the burning room.
There, they spotted a large fuel container. The discovery came as flames continued tearing through the bedroom. When firefighters sprayed water towards the container, Mr Jam said repeated blasts followed.
Despite the danger, crews continued fighting the blaze. They eventually brought the fire under control after about 30 minutes. The room containing the fuel container was subsequently identified as the dead couple’s bedroom.
Couple found severely burned beside charcoal stove. Rescuers found about 30 dead cats upstairs
Once the flames were contained, rescuers moved through the heavily damaged second floor. Inside the bedroom, they found a man and woman lying dead together on a bed. Both bodies were severely burned.
Crucially, a charcoal stove was found near the bodies. Investigators also discovered the remains of a 20-litre container previously used to store petrol. Separately, firefighters later found the bathroom door locked.
The grim discoveries continued elsewhere upstairs. In a rear room on the same floor, rescuers found numerous dead cats. Reports from the scene put the death toll among the animals at about 30.
However, rescue workers continued searching for surviving pets. Several cats were carried from the smoke-filled house as emergency workers attempted resuscitation. Outside, rescuers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the animals.
Ultimately, two cats survived. Both were reported to be recovering following emergency treatment. About 30 others could not be saved.
Petrol stains found throughout Nonthaburi home as police examine fuel container and firefighter accounts
In parallel, police began inspecting the property once firefighters had secured the scene. The first floor had not been damaged by the blaze. Nevertheless, officers reported finding petrol stains splashed throughout the premises.
That discovery widened the physical evidence requiring examination inside the house. Police also documented material recovered from the couple’s badly damaged bedroom. It included the charcoal stove and remains of the 20-litre petrol container.
Furthermore, investigators recorded the firefighters’ account of the large fuel container seen during the blaze. Mr Jam said crews encountered repeated blasts after directing water towards it. The container was inside the room where the couple were subsequently found dead.
On another front, investigators began questioning neighbours about what happened immediately before the fire. One neighbour reported hearing a loud sound from inside the house. The noise came before the blaze was detected.
The witness described the sound as resembling something falling onto the floor. Shortly afterwards, the fire was reported and emergency crews raced to the estate.
Neighbour reports loud noise before blaze as police examine evidence across the fire-damaged property
The neighbour also told police that the couple worked as cryptocurrency traders. Police, however, announced no connection between their occupation and the fire. Their identities also remained unconfirmed following the severe burning of their bodies.
As part of the inquiry, investigators were reconstructing conditions throughout the property. The fire itself had caused its major damage upstairs. Flames had engulfed the second floor before crews brought them under control.
By contrast, the lower floor escaped direct fire damage. Even so, police said petrol stains were found splashed throughout the premises. Investigators therefore had evidence extending beyond the rooms actually consumed by flames.
Upstairs, the couple’s bedroom remained a central part of the scene examination. The man and woman had been found together on their bed. Nearby were the charcoal stove and remains of the petrol container.
Elsewhere on the same floor, about 30 cats lay dead in the rear room. Only two animals survived the disaster after rescuers administered CPR.
Locked bathroom door examined as firefighters recount repeated blasts from fuel container in bedroom
At the same time, police were examining the locked bathroom door found after the fire. No explanation for it had been announced. Officers were also gathering statements from firefighters who entered the burning upper floor.
Mr Jam’s account detailed a dangerous stage of the operation. Firefighters had been directing water onto the blaze when they saw flames moving towards the bedroom. They then climbed a ladder and spotted the large fuel container.
Moments later, repeated blasts occurred as water was sprayed towards it, according to Mr Jam. Crews pressed on and eventually subdued the fire within about half an hour.
Afterwards, the scale of the scene became clear. The couple were dead, about 30 cats had perished and the second floor was badly damaged. Yet two cats had survived after emergency resuscitation.
In addition, investigators faced several distinct findings inside the house. These included the charcoal stove, petrol container remains and petrol stains throughout the premises. Firefighters had also reported the repeated blasts involving the large fuel container.
Neighbour’s account helps build fire timeline as rescuers find couple dead while two cats survive
The neighbour’s evidence added another element to the timeline. A loud noise had reportedly come from inside shortly before the fire. It sounded like something falling onto the floor, according to the witness.
Subsequently, emergency services received the call at about 12.10 am. Four fire engines responded to the luxury estate as flames engulfed the second floor.
Within about 30 minutes, firefighters had the blaze under control. Rescue workers then entered the upper rooms and found the couple. The extensive burning meant their identities could not immediately be confirmed.
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Nearby, rescuers confronted the mass death of the couple’s pets. About 30 cats were found dead in the rear room. Emergency teams nevertheless attempted CPR on animals pulled from the house.
Against the odds, two cats survived those efforts and were recovering. They were the only reported survivors among the couple’s large number of pets.
For now, police have not announced what caused the deadly blaze. Investigators continue examining the physical evidence, firefighter accounts and statements from neighbours. The inquiry into the early morning fire remains underway.
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Further reading:
Chiang Mai family home gutted by fire. Occupants escaped after woman of the house spotted smoke
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Government sends strong warning to EV industry after a dramatic surge in consumer complaints
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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
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