Baffling Blaze Torches BMW In Jomtien Parking Lot

October 15, 2012

A mysterious fire consumed a BMW in a Jomtien condominium parking lot and damaged six other luxury cars. Total damages were estimated at 10 million THB. The fire had started in the BMW’s engine compartment, but the car had been parked since the previous evening.

PATTAYA – October 14, 2012 [PDN]; at 1 a.m., a report of a fire burning many cars in a condominium parking lot was received by Pol. Lt. Col. Somphol Nakkhamphan, investigation officer, Na Jomtien police station, Chonburi province. So he rushed to inspect the scene with Pol. Col. Sathien Boonkham, Superintendent, Na Jomtien police station, Chonburi province.

The fire occurred in the parking lot of Krissada Golden Condotel Cliff and Park in Jomtien. At the scene, police discovered the fire had started from a brown BMW series 7, red license number THOR-3108 Bangkok. The entire car had been consumed by flames.

The fire was so intense that it also damaged six other vehicles parked nearby: a Honda CRV, license number WOR NOR-3205, belonging to Ms. Mookda Phulkasem; a Toyota Camry, license number SOR NOR-1458 Bangkok, belonging to a Russian tourist; a gray Mercedes Benz, license number THOR OR-3815 Bangkok, belonging to Mr. Nanthisakarn Janphen; a Hyundai van, license number HOR NOR-9299 Bangkok, belonging to Dr. Bannasit Chaiprasit; and a red Lexus, license number 8931, belonging to Mr. Thongchai Lertsrijaturaporn.

However, the owner of a white Toyota Hybrid was able to drive away from the scene in his vehicle, which suffered slight damages. There were also three more cars nearby that suffered minor damages. The total damage estimate to all the cars was more than 10 million THB.

Police questioned the BMW’s owner, Mr. Suphat Rattananavathong, age 51, who is staying with his family on the 26th floor of the condominium building. Mr. Suphat told police that he had bought his car only a month ago, and had parked it the previous evening in the building’s parking lot. He had no idea what caused the fire.

The building manager, Mr. Wanchai Kaewchinprasert, told police that an employee had seen the fire burning from the front of the BMW. So the employee hurried to notify the security guard, and tried to use a chemical substance to stop the fire, but they could not extinguish the blaze. Other eyewitnesses said there was an explosion that caused the fire to spread and burn intensely.

Later, Pol. Maj. Jittima Jintapitak, a specialist in the police evidence department came to inspect the vehicles. However, he could not find evidence indicating what caused the fire. He noted only that the fire had started in the BMW’s engine compartment on the left side of the car engine. He said he had to inspect the engine further to detect for any unusual evidence that could explain the cause of the fire.

The Jomtien police superintendant said that since their initial inspection is inconclusive about the cause of the blaze, more evidence will have to be gathered by the police specialist. He said arson does not appear to be a cause, since the parking lot’s CCTVs did not reveal the presence of anyone at the scene at the time of the fire.