A fire broke out in a pile of foam pellet scraps beneath old chemical tanks at the former Ming Tee factory inside Soi Kingkaeo 21, producing thick black smoke. Authorities have now controlled the fire.
At 06:00 on 25 Aug 2026, the Prevention and Mitigation Division of Rachathewa Subdistrict Administrative Organization, along with officials from Bang Phli Yai Subdistrict Administrative Organization, dispatched fire trucks and personnel to inspect and suppress a fire at the Ming Tee company factory area in Soi Kingkaeo 21, Rachathewa Subdistrict, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province. The site is currently closed and abandoned.
Upon inspection at the scene near old chemical tanks on the factory premises, flames were burning foam scraps beneath two large tanks, producing thick black smoke. Firefighters had to traverse dense trees and weeds before using water and foam agents to control the blaze.
Mr. Natthaphon Ruphan, a Prevention and Mitigation officer from Rachathewa Subdistrict Administrative Organization, said they were alerted before 06:00. Initially, the fire was found burning foam pellets, leftover materials from the old factory. It is suspected that intruders illegally entered the abandoned area to cut and steal metal, creating sparks that ignited the debris beneath the tanks.
This incident was not caused by the old chemicals inside the tanks but by burning foam pellets and plastic materials, which spread partially to the tanks themselves. This resulted in large smoke and unpleasant odors affecting nearby communities. Firefighters took about 10 minutes to extinguish the flames completely, then continued spraying water to reduce heat and prevent re-ignition, spending around 20 minutes in total to control the situation.
There are no reports of damage to nearby houses or injuries from the fire, only initial smoke and odor impacts. The exact cause remains under investigation, with officials suspecting involvement of illegal metal cutting within the abandoned area.
This area previously experienced a major explosion and fire on 5 July 2021, causing widespread damage, dozens of injuries, and one firefighter fatality.
However, since that major event, there have been repeated reports of illegal metal cutting and theft within the site, often followed by fires. This issue has yet to be effectively resolved. Local residents are urging operators and relevant authorities to strengthen security to prevent unauthorized access and properly inspect and remove leftover foam, chemicals, and raw materials to avoid repeat severe incidents.