Paramet, Bangkok MP for Pom Prap Sattru Phai district from the People's Party, visited the site to monitor the Khlong Thom Center fire situation, closely coordinating aid and submitting four proposals to overhaul old city safety regulations and upgrade rescue welfare.
On 29 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Paramet Witthayaraksa, MP for Bangkok's Pom Prap Sattru Phai district from the People's Party, visited the scene to monitor the situation and coordinate assistance closely following the Khlong Thom Center fire. He also helped communicate information about relief measures and victims’ rights, along with policy suggestions for sustainable prevention and restoration in the inner city area.
Paramet revealed that about 10 people were initially injured, mostly volunteer firefighters who suffered smoke inhalation and injuries from falling debris, including one critically ill patient. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and police declared the Khlong Thom Center a “fire hazard zone,” strictly prohibiting outsiders from entering while assessing the building structures’ safety. Authorities have stationed police to guard the perimeter to prevent theft of vendors’ property.
Following the incident, Paramet compiled issues and prepared to propose four key policy solutions to Bangkok authorities and related agencies:
1. Proactive risk audits of old buildings in inner Bangkok, especially in Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Samphanthawong, and Phra Nakhon districts, where many historic commercial buildings may not meet current fire safety standards. He urged Bangkok and the Ministry of Interior to jointly inspect fire extinguishing systems and escape routes in commercial buildings and markets in these old city areas to prevent recurrence.
2. Upgrading welfare and equipment for volunteer firefighters. Reports show most injured were volunteers who risked their lives controlling the fire, with some critically affected. This highlights frontline risks, so budget support should be increased for standard firefighting gear and smoke masks, alongside establishing welfare funds or health insurance covering rescue volunteers.
3. Revitalizing small businesses and temporary trade spaces. Khlong Thom Center is an economic lifeline for small vendors; loss of space and stock means total income loss. He proposed Bangkok coordinate temporary nearby trade areas so vendors can earn income during recovery and discuss state financial institutions offering low-interest soft loans.
4. Overhauling fire extinguisher allocation rules in urban communities. Currently, Bangkok’s policy bases allocations on population and housing numbers, which may not match actual risk, especially in inner city areas like Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Samphanthawong, and Phra Nakhon with narrow alleys and mixed-use commercial-residential zones. Existing extinguishers are often insufficient, poorly placed, or deteriorated.
He therefore proposed Bangkok revise fire extinguisher distribution by including building density and fire risk indicators to allocate more extinguishers in old city areas where fire trucks have limited access. Beyond increasing quantity, clear regulations should empower district offices to regularly inspect and refill extinguishers (e.g., implementing QR codes on extinguishers for real-time expiration checks).
Additionally, Paramet suggested Bangkok find ways to provide basic firefighting equipment to dense residential or market areas not yet qualifying as established communities under current rules, ensuring no area lacks safety coverage. He also advocated for a fast-track process allowing community committees to request emergency budget releases from districts for immediate replacement of damaged extinguishers without waiting for the annual budget cycle.
