SAMUT PRAKAN - A recycling plant and about 200 tonnes of used plastic was destroyed by a fire that sent black smoke billowing above tambon Bang Pu Mai in Muang district on Monday morning
The fire began in the Thai M Recycle Co plant in Moo 1 village about 6.30am. Seven fire engines dispatched to the scene took about two hours to put it out.
Witnesses said a new roof as being built over the factory, but rain halted the work in the morning.
While the roofers were waiting for the rain to ease off a circuit breaker flashed into flames that spread along the connected electrical wiring in the plant.
Burning wires then fell onto piles of stored plastic vehicle parts and 200 tonnes of pellets made from used plastic. The blaze spread rapidly through the stored plastic material, engulfing the plant machinery. The fire also killed four pet wild pigs on the premises.
Police believed rainwater flowed into the circuit breaker, causing a short circuit that started the fire. Damage was estimated at 5 million baht.