A garbage recycling plant was totally destroyed by a fire that raged for several hours at its premises in Chachoengsao province late on Wednesday night.
The 5-rai plant belonged to CKP Recycle Co, in Sib Ed Sok sub-district of Ban Pho district. Police said the blaze started inside its garbage storage building about 9pm Wednesday.
Flames that spread through pallets and bales of compressed plastic and paper spread to an office building and then throughout the property. Destroyed equipment included a waste grinder, three forklifts and a sedan.
About 10 fire engines were sent to battle the blaze, but the factory is in an isolated area with only a narrow road for access and only a few could reach the compound at a time. It took them four hours to bring it under control.
The plant operator's father, Sujin Sa-ngiamjit had his arm burnt as he tried to put out the fire with an extinguisher. His daughter Chalita Thaikaen was not present.
The plant was not insured and damage was estimated at 5 million baht, said Pol Lt Prem Sitthi-udom of the Ban Pho police station.