Two Foreigners and Rescue Worker Injured in Talay 5 blaze

[reader]

From Pattaya News

 

A fire broke out at a Pattaya condominium early this morning, leaving three people injured.

At 2:46 AM on November 1st, the Pattaya Land Disaster Prevention Center received a report of a fire at the View Talay Residence 5 condominium. Upon receiving the report, they coordinated with the Pattaya Police, Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Center, and the fire department to respond to the scene.

The fire occurred in a seven-story condominium, with flames heavily engulfing a room on the sixth floor. Emergency crews quickly evacuated residents, including both Thais and foreigners. Several tourists were found suffering from smoke inhalation. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze after 15 minutes, leaving only smoke lingering in the area.

According to the fire department, the fire originated on the sixth floor and spread to neighboring units. All belongings inside the affected room were completely destroyed. Several distressed residents were seen signaling for help with flashlights from their rooms, and rescue workers used a crane to evacuate them to safety. Those who suffered from smoke inhalation were given first aid and transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

One rescue worker, identified as Mr. Thaksin Thienkhao, was injured while assisting residents. He was cut on his right arm from a window that shattered due to the heat. He was also rushed to a local hospital.

In total, two foreign nationals sustained non-life-threatening burns. The cause of the fire is still under investigation as of press time.

[vinapu]

Hope it's not where bkkmfj lives

[bkkmfj2648]

3 hours ago, vinapu said:

Hope it's not where bkkmfj lives

hahaha

when @reader first posted this and I read it here - I ran out onto the balcony to see if there was any fire damage - but not.

Then I resat down at my computer to give this alarming article another proper read and I realized that it was another VT building and not mine.

Here in my VT we are still trying to recover from September's tragic event where a farang - one floor above my floor - died when somehow falling from his balcony - NAKED - which still to this day does not make any sense and the continuing rumor mill is like an Angela Christie unsolved mystery....

 

 

 

 

[reader]

It’s evident that Talay building lacks automatic sprinklers in units (not unusual in buildings of this era).

I’d also be concerned if smoke detectors are in working order (they should have indicator light that blinks periodically when functional). If at all uncertain, you can pick up battery powered detector at Home Pro for reasonable cost and place it on a high shelf outside sleeping area.

i regularly find defective or disconnected, or totally absent, detectors in some Bkk hotels and Airbnb’s. 
 

 

[bkkmfj2648]

5 hours ago, reader said:

It’s evident that Talay building lacks automatic sprinklers in units (not unusual in buildings of this era).

I can vouch that in the VT building where I live there are in fact BOTH automatic sprinklers (2) and smoke detector (1) in each room - excluding wardrobe room and bathroom.

5 hours ago, reader said:

I’d also be concerned if smoke detectors are in working order (they should have indicator light that blinks periodically when functional).

hmm @reader - now that I think about it I have NEVER seen any of the smoke detectors in my condo blink.

I will add this to my project list for tomorrow - as I need to clean the 2 aircon filters.  Thanks for potentially saving my life....

[thaiophilus]

If you're lucky the smoke detectors may have a "test" button.

If you're even luckier the sprinklers may be connected to a water supply.

[bkkmfj2648]

2 hours ago, thaiophilus said:

If you're even luckier the sprinklers may be connected to a water supply.

OMG 🤨🫨😵‍💫😲

[bkkmfj2648]

17 hours ago, thaiophilus said:

If you're even luckier the sprinklers may be connected to a water supply.

You may be right.  Today I disassembled the 2 smoke detectors and tried to locate the battery compartment and there was none.  It seems that this integrated model that they installed is hard wired to the building electrical current - and would they function if the power goes out ? 🤔

Here is the smoke detector technical diagram and related specifications:

    

Which is then integrated (hard wired) into the central command center:

Does this mean that if the smoke detector senses a fire within you condo unit that it activates the ceiling water sprinklers ? 🤞🤔

I will try to ask someone who understands technical things within the building and also understands English ? 

 

[thaiophilus]

50 minutes ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

Does this mean that if the smoke detector senses a fire within you condo unit that it activates the ceiling water sprinklers ? 🤞🤔

No, they are probably independent systems. The smoke detector sounds an alarm and maybe calls the fire brigade. The sprinkler heads contain capsules which burst when heated and open a valve to release water. (To protect against accidental flooding,  some systems are pressurised with air and only turn on the water when two different sprinklers are triggered.)

 

E&OE; I am not an expert; seek professional advice; etc etc.

[reader]

Residential sprinkler heads normally designed to release water (when metal component melts or capsule bursts) at 135 deg. F.

Dry sprinklers systems filled with pressurized air allow the water control valve to automatically release water when water pressure exceeds that of the escaping air pressure. You usually only find these in cold climates in areas subject to freezing.

There are two types of smoke detection sensors: photo electric and ionization. The photo electric respond a bit sooner to the presence of smoke and generally preferred method. But either will get the job done.

Fixed temperature devices to not detect smoke but measure ambient air temperature.

Any system is only as good as the maintenance they are provided with. All smoke detectors have a shelf life, after which the sensors are no longer functional and require replacement. 

20 hours ago, thaiophilus said:

If you're even luckier the sprinklers may be connected to a water supply.

Very sage advice. It would take a trained technician to determine if adequate water supply is both available and the system has not been disabled by closed valves. 
 

 

[BjornAgain]

Never been one to trust Thai alarm systems, so have my installed my own. Previous Condo had a sprinkler system and ceiling mounted fire alarm system. By European standards Heat Sensors are installed in kitchen areas, noticed all the sensors where basic smoke sensors. Furthermore in the 2 years I stayed there, there was never a test. 2 months before I left the funds had been accrued and approved by the Owners / Juristic Committee to carry out a maintenance check. Discovered this was 7 years in the making. When I left no remedial action had started, as basically since the condo was commissioned close to bugger all maintenance of the Fire Alarm system had taken place, so all the sensors were pass their End of Life date. And would require full replacement. Not something that would happen over night, as the building was only 70% occupied, and not every owner had paid or was paying the Service Charge, hence a large hole in the finances. Did ask when was the last time the Sprinkler System was tested, not a clear answer, but assumed it was the day it was commissioned, i.e. 14 years previously. 

In my current condo, ceiling mounted fire alarm sensors, all with flashing LEDs, so implying working system. Yet in 8 months not tested once. No sprinkler system.

So instatalled a plug-in power monitor with a cabled Heat/Smoke sensor above the kitchen area. Uses a variable mobile carrier data connection, so not linked to a single mobile network or WiFi system. Get an alert on my mobile for any ambient temperature changes above threshold or alarm activation. And, yes I do test it.

The alerting power monitor is useful for power cuts when I'm away as well.