Lightning strike suspected cause in Prachuap fire at coconut plant

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: October 5: Investigators are looking into whether or not lighting was the cause of a Prachuap fire that engulfed a coconut choir fiber processing plant on Wednesday.  

Ao Noi Police were initially alerted of the fire, who then dispatched emergency response units from Ao Noi and Koh Lak administration organizations and the Wing 5 military base. 

Firefighters arrived at the scene, located at 55 Phetkasem Road in Koh Lak sub district of Mueang district,  where they found the compounds of Sam Ao Karn Kaset company completely engulfed in flames.

Fueling the fire were large bundles of coconut fiber and various processing machinery and equipment, which proved challenging for firefighters, fearing the fire would soon spread to a neighboring school.

After about an hour, the fire was contained. No injuries were reported, and damages were initially estimated to be no less than THB 500,000 ($13,000). 

According to various online news reports, the fire was thought to be ignited by a lightning strike, though other reports suggested faulty electrical circuitry as a primary or secondary cause. 

See Thai news report here.