NAKHON SI THAMMARAT — A fire severely damaged a rubber smokehouse early Friday, causing losses estimated at more than 10 million baht.
The blaze broke out about 3am at the Thaweesap rubber smokehouse in Chang Klang district.
District chief Banyat Panarat ordered fire engines from local administrative organisations in the district and neighbouring areas to respond.
The fire engulfed the smoke‑curing chamber, where a large quantity of rubber sheets was being processed, and spread rapidly. Workers and firefighters removed some sheets, but a substantial amount was destroyed.
Firefighters spent more than four hours containing the blaze and brought it under control by dawn, though smoke was still rising later in the morning.
Preliminary investigations found workers had loaded a large quantity of raw rubber sheets on Thursday and lit the furnace as part of normal processing
Authorities believed that the fire started inside the curing chamber and spread through stored rubber.
Damage to smoked rubber sheets and the building is estimated at over 10 million baht.
Officials said losses were amplified by high rubber prices, with raw sheets selling for 83 to 85 baht per kilogramme and Grade 3 smoked sheets fetching over 90 baht/kg.
Mr Banyat said the smokehouse, owned by Sirinda Chansawat and run as a family business, is being assessed for quantities stored and salvaged.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
