Massive Fire Engulfs Pattaya Scrap Yard, Raising Air Pollution Concerns
PATTAYA – A massive fire broke out at a scrap yard in Pattaya, causing damages estimated between 200,000 and 300,000 baht and adding to growing concerns over air pollution in the region.
The Nong Prue Municipality’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department received reports of the fire at a scrap yard on Soi Thung Klom Tan Man 17 at around 2 PM on Thursday, February 13. Firefighters from Nong Prue Police Station and Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation quickly responded, dispatching five fire trucks to combat the blaze.
Upon arrival, emergency crews found the 6-rai facility engulfed in thick smoke, with flames rapidly consuming a warehouse filled with old cardboard boxes. Firefighters worked for nearly 30 minutes to bring the fire under control, but much of the facility was already destroyed.
According to Pongsakorn, a 30-year-old worker at the site, the fire ignited when a forklift’s wheels spun on a pile of cardboard, generating sparks that set the dry material ablaze. Workers attempted to contain the flames but were forced to call emergency services as the fire spread uncontrollably.
While authorities assess the financial impact of the incident, environmental concerns are growing. This fire follows another large blaze in Bang Lamung just days earlier, intensifying fears of worsening pollution levels in Chon Buri and nearby areas.
In January, a massive wildfire near Pattaya was visible for kilometers, further exacerbating concerns over the city’s air quality. With back-to-back fires affecting the region, residents worry that Pattaya’s pollution crisis is becoming increasingly severe. Authorities are now urging stricter fire safety measures at industrial sites to prevent future disasters.
