A mid‑afternoon welding job in Pattaya turned into a smoke-filled scramble on September 11, when sparks from rooftop work ignited insulation and set a townhouse alight. The blaze erupted at about 2:30pm in Soi Nern Plab Wan, close to the entrance of Chatkaew 9 Village, and quickly drew neighbours, rescuers and a plume of thick black smoke that could be seen rising from the building’s second floor.
Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre crews answered the call without delay, sending three fire trucks and teams to the scene. Firefighters, supported by neighbours and other rescue personnel, moved fast to tackle the flames originating at house number 18/38. Local onlookers gathered nearby, anxious but relieved as crews wrestled the fire into submission.
Thanks to that rapid response and focused firefighting, the damage was limited: the inferno was contained to the kitchen area and did not spread throughout the house, sparing the structure from more severe destruction. There were no injuries and no fatalities reported.
The homeowner, 29‑year‑old Pattha Rerkpranee, told reporters she had been upstairs resting with her sister when they smelled smoke. “I was on the second floor with my sister when we noticed smoke. We ran downstairs and saw the fire had started where the welding was being done. We managed to get out safely,” she said. According to Pattha, a worker carrying out welding on the roof near the kitchen was the source of the sparks that ignited insulating material.
Scenes like this are a stark reminder that seemingly routine construction or repair work carries real risk if proper precautions aren’t taken. Officials at the scene have begun assessing the full extent of the damage and emphasized the importance of safety measures whenever welding, cutting or other heat‑generating activities are underway. Their guidance included simple but critical safeguards such as using fire‑resistant shielding, keeping fire extinguishers nearby, and ensuring workers are trained in fire prevention.
Pattaya residents have been reminded that even small sparks can lead to large problems, especially when they land on flammable insulation or clutter. In a city where residential buildings often sit close together, a contained kitchen fire can easily become a neighbourhood emergency if it’s not stopped quickly.
The incident also joins a string of recent fires across the area. Just two days earlier, on the night of September 9, a three‑storey apartment block in Soi Pattaya Tai was engulfed in flames on its top floor, forcing residents to evacuate. Emergency teams were alerted around 11:36pm to the blaze near the Ban Chiang grilled pork restaurant. That event, together with the Soi Nern Plab Wan townhouse fire, has prompted renewed calls for vigilance during renovation projects and more rigorous enforcement of safety standards.
Practical safety steps residents and workers should follow include:
- Using fire‑resistant tarps or shields when welding near roofs, eaves, or insulation.
- Keeping at least one suitable fire extinguisher within immediate reach of work areas.
- Clearing combustible materials and debris from the work zone before starting hot work.
- Having a trained spotter whose sole job is to watch for sparks and flare‑ups while work is underway.
- Installing and regularly testing smoke detectors, especially near kitchens and work areas.
Neighbours who helped at the Pattaya townhouse deserve credit for acting swiftly to alert emergency services and assist where they could. Their quick thinking, combined with the rescue centre’s prompt dispatch, is likely what prevented a far worse outcome.
As authorities continue to evaluate the damage at house 18/38, the message from local officials is clear: be cautious, plan for the worst, and make safety non‑negotiable. Whether it’s a rooftop repair, a home renovation, or any other activity that produces heat and sparks, taking basic precautions can keep a small job from turning into a devastating fire.
Residents who witnessed the firefighting efforts said they were grateful that no one was hurt and that the fire was kept under control. For victims like Pattha and her sister, a terrifying afternoon ended with relief—and a reminder that sometimes the fastest way to save a home is to prepare for the fires you hope never to see.
This is insane — they left someone welding on a roof without basic fire watch? That should be illegal in tight neighborhoods like Pattaya.
Illegal or not, enforcement is weak here. You can read safety rules all day but if the inspectors don’t show up nothing changes.
Exactly, Larry. Laws are only as good as the people who enforce them. We need community pressure, not just paper rules.
Community pressure helps but sometimes people just need basic training and common sense. Even a bucket of water and a spotter would have helped.
Spotter or not, if the worker was careless they should pay. Homeowners shouldn’t be on the hook when contractors mess up.
As the homeowner I can say we hired someone thinking they knew what they were doing. We never expected sparks to reach the insulation so quickly.
Glad nobody was hurt but the article makes it sound like a miracle. This could’ve burned an entire row of townhouses.
It was lucky and thanks to neighbours. People in Pattaya sometimes underestimate how close houses are, especially with cheap insulation.
Right, cheap insulation plus narrow lanes is a risky mix. Urban planning matters as much as worker safety.
From a materials standpoint many modern insulations are highly flammable when exposed to open sparks, especially older foam types. Regulatory updates should specify noncombustible barriers for rooftop hot work.
Totally agree. Specifying fire-resistant shielding and mandatory spotters during hot work would reduce incidents. Cost is small compared to potential loss.
Cost-benefit analysis always favors prevention here. A single small policy change can avoid massive social and economic costs.
As someone who teaches safety protocols, training is key. It’s not just laws, it’s education—workers and homeowners both need to know risks.
People act like welding is safe because they’ve seen it on TV. Sparks are tiny but they cause huge trouble when insulation is wrong.
TV shows never show the clean-up or the safety prep. Real life is messier and more dangerous, yes.
I appreciate the support. We were terrified but neighbours helped quickly and firefighters were amazing. Please be careful when hiring workers.
Thank you for commenting, Pattha. Hope your home recovers quickly and you get proper compensation if the worker was negligent.
We’re looking into compensation and official reports. It’s complicated but safety is more important than money right now.
Pattha, any idea if the worker had insurance or a permit? That matters for liability and for future prevention.
This incident highlights systemic failures: lack of permits, poor contractor vetting, and combustible roofing materials. A technical audit of common practices in the area is overdue.
An audit would also inform targeted retrofits, like installing barriers and smoke detectors in high-risk zones. Data-driven policy beating ad hoc fixes.
Exactly. We need to map hotspots where renovations coincide with flammable materials and dense housing.
Mapping sounds great but who’s going to fund it? Local budgets are tight and everyone expects instant fixes.
Crowdsource it. Neighbours can report risky work and images. It puts pressure on authorities without waiting for funding.
Kids in the area should learn basic fire safety too. If houses are close, evacuation drills and smoke alarms can save lives.
Yes, simple drills at schools and community centers could be lifesavers. But adults have to model safe behaviour first.
Community centers could hold monthly safety workshops. It builds trust and spreads practical tips like keeping an extinguisher near the kitchen.
This is also a labor issue: many informal workers lack training or protective gear. Better certification schemes for welders could help.
Certification is a good idea but enforcement again is the catch. Still, it gives homeowners a checklist when hiring.
Blaming the worker alone feels simplistic. Homeowners and contractors share responsibility, and municipal oversight should prevent risky setups.
Shared responsibility is true, but someone needs to be accountable now. If paperwork is missing, fines should follow.
I live nearby and saw the smoke. People were shouting to get hoses but had no training. It’s scary how quickly things can go wrong.
Seeing smoke up close changes how you feel about safety. I think local committees should run neighborhood watch-style safety checks.
Neighborhood committees could partner with rescue centers to train volunteers. That would spread practical knowledge fast.
Whoever sold that insulation should be investigated too. Sellers must warn buyers about flammability in ordinary language, not technical terms.
Consumer protection laws should require clear labeling and usage warnings. Many materials are safe if used correctly, but people need to know the limits.
I think fines won’t fix culture. We need incentives: cheaper insurance premiums for certified contractors and safer materials.
Incentives work better than punitive measures alone. Subsidies for safer materials could shift market demand quickly.
Agreed, but transparency is key. Homeowners should be able to verify a contractor’s certification online before hiring.
This scares me as someone who keeps tools at home. I’m going to stop letting tradespeople work unsupervised in my house.
That’s a good immediate step. Supervise all hot work and ask to see permits and extinguishers before anything starts.
Why do people still use flammable insulation? Isn’t there safer stuff that isn’t too expensive?
There are safer alternatives, but cost and availability vary. Policy can nudge suppliers to stock better options and phase out risky materials.