Faulting
wiring is being blamed for the conflagration
that consumed this Koh Samet School.
Theerarak Suthathiwong
Faulting wiring is being blamed for a fire that destroyed
Koh Samet School, causing 2 million baht in damage, but injuring no one.
Rayong police were notified about the blaze at Koh Kaew
Pitsadan School around 3:30 p.m. Oct. 13. By the time authorities traveled
to the island, the schoolhouse was fully engulfed. With no fire station, or
even fire truck on the popular tourist resort island, the school quickly
burned to the ground.
Paint stored at the wooden-and-concrete building opened
by HRH the Princess Mother in 1971 is believed to have fueled the
fast-moving fire. Tourists first alerted authorities to smoke, but it was
dismissed as someone burning garbage. As the flames grew, locals finally
responded, bringing what water they had in six-wheel water truck from the
Koh Samet National Park. It was too little, too late.
School was not in session at the time, so no one was
injured. But damage was estimated at 2 million baht. An electrical short is
being blamed for the fire, but an investigation is under way.
