A suspected arson fire destroyed almost 50 rooms at a construction camp in Pattaya Monday, but injured no one.
Pattaya police were informed about the blaze at the construction site on Soi Kasetsin 1 at the Cosy Beach section of Pratamnak hill in the Chonburi province resort town around 1pm. A towering plume of smoke could be seen throughout tambon Nong Preu of Bang Lamung district.
Rescue teams and three fire trucks were sent to battle the fire. It took around 30 minutes to control the flames that eventually destroyed about 50 wood-and-zinc shacks at the camp owned by Sky Line Co.
Fire started w/explosion at construction site in #Pattaya's Cosy Beach area. (photos: ChiangFai) pic.twitter.com/F53JhWPa7c
— Stickboy Pattaya (@StickboyPattaya) September 7, 2015
Pol Col Sukthat Pumpunmuang, superintendent of Pattaya police said there investigators were exploring two possible causes of the fire: an electrical short or arson. Police banned people from entering the area as they look for forensic evidence.
The arson assumption was based on information given by a Cambodian worker who told the police that he and another three friends got in a fight with workers at another camp on Sunday night. They were suspended from work for a week by the foreman after he learned of the incident.
The worker said the foreman drove them back to the camp and his three workers were unhappy so they left. He said the fire started in their room about 10 minutes after the three left.
The trio is being sought for questioning.
Fire this morning in the direction of #Pattaya Sheraton Resort. (via @masanaminori) pic.twitter.com/iS04Hr0Oxt
— Stickboy Pattaya (@StickboyPattaya) September 7, 2015