CHIANG MAI – A fire broke out at a row of stalls selling shoes, clothes and other articles at Chotana Plaza in Chang Phuak subdistrict, Muang Chiang Mai district in front of Novotel Hotel late on Saturday night, police said.
The fire started at about 10.10 p.m. and quickly spread to engulf the the entire row of about 40 vending stalls roofed with corrugated sheet.
Initially, three fire trucks from Tambon Chang Phuak Municipality responded, but could not control the fire. After calling for backup from a nearby local administrative agency, the fire was brought under control within an hour.
Preliminary inspection revealed that Ms. Tuangtip Tansuwat was the owner of approximately 3 rais and allocated the area for commercial purposes. All the stalls were damaged by the fire, along with a nearby building. Most of the affected business operators also do not have insurance.
Police were investigating to establish what caused the fire and where it started. Authorities currently believe that an electrical short circuit had caused the fire.
