A house fire that caused the tragic death of three people in San Pa Tong late Saturday evening, Sept. 14 is now believed to have been caused by a faulty refrigerator.
The fire broke out in the house in Ban Nong Phan Neon, Moo 13 Yu Wa, San Pa Tong at around 10 p.m.
Locals were first to the scene but were, unfortunately, able to get three of the four occupants out due to the intensity of the fire.
The deceased were named as Mr. Sirimanat Sathamai, 61, his daughter Mrs. Ratchanee Pornsamai, 39 and her daughter, Miss. Manapin Sathamai, 2 months old. A five-year-old boy, presumably the son, Manasiri Sathamai was rescued and rushed to hospital with burns.
Officers from San Pa Tong Police Station and the Chiang Mai Forensics Unit visited the house at lunchtime Sunday to investigate the cause of the fire. The preliminary finding is that the fire was caused by a short circuit or electrical fault at the rear of a refrigerator inside the house.
The investigators further concluded that the family was likely asleep at the time the fire broke out and that due to a large number of cardboard boxes in the house, the fire spread rapidly, overcoming them with smoke before they were able to escape.
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