Photos reveal damage from a fire at stalls in the Chatuchak Weekend Market, destroying 28 stalls. A security guard said he tried to use a fire extinguisher but could not control the blaze. Police suspect an electrical short circuit and are expediting coordination with forensic teams to inspect the scene.
At 22:42 on 9 Feb 2024, Police Lieutenant Colonel Weerawat Praibung, investigative officer at Bang Sue Police Station, received reports of a fire at Chatuchak Weekend Market (Gate 1) on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak district, Bangkok. He informed his superiors and proceeded to the scene with Police Colonel Sanong Saengmanee, Chief of Bang Sue Police Station; Police Lieutenant Colonel Manun Kumeung, Deputy Superintendent of Operations; patrol officers from Bang Sue Station; and coordinated with fire and rescue units from Phahonyothin Fire Station and nearby volunteer firefighters, deploying more than 10 fire trucks.
The fire occurred inside the market in Project 17, alleys 9/2 to 9/4, consisting of 48 contiguous single-story steel-frame stalls with zinc roofs, operating as a weekend market selling clothing and ceramics. Flames and thick smoke were seen emerging from a clothing stall in alley 9/2, then quickly spreading to adjacent stalls in alleys 9/3 and 9/4. Firefighters rapidly laid hoses and after more than 30 minutes, the fire was brought under control.
Initial damage assessments showed the fire destroyed 28 stalls across the three alleys, covering about 240 square meters. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
During questioning, Mr. Kiattisak Sukrach, 28, the head of security, stated that around 22:00, the security staff on duty smelled smoke and found a fire burning in a stall in alley 9/2. Despite using chemical fire extinguishers repeatedly, they could not control the flames, prompting them to call the fire department.
He also noted that the previous Saturday, an electrical short circuit caused a fire that damaged CCTV cameras at a nearby shop. However, security guards intervened immediately and extinguished that fire. At the time of the recent incident, no one was present since the market was closed.
Preliminary police investigations suggest the cause was an electrical short circuit in wiring. The area has been cordoned off, and forensic officials have been contacted to conduct a detailed examination to determine the exact cause.
