In just the past week, there have been four house fires in Vientiane, resulting in damages to five houses estimated at over 1 billion kip but luckily no one has been injured or killed.An official in charge of the Vientiane Fire Prevention and Protection Department told Vientiane Times on Friday that the first fire occurred in Nongsangthor village, Xaysettha district when a house burned down on August 31, with the resulting damages estimated at some 150 million kip.
Police said the fire started at around 11:20am. Police firefighters were called to the scene, with officers able to put out the fire before it spread more widely.
They deployed two trucks to control the blaze, the seriousness of which had been escalating rapidly.
Fire fighters needed 30 minutes to extinguish the flames completely. The first floor was made of concrete while the second floor was made of wood.
The house was owned by Mr. Hongkeo,56.The police and other authorities are currently investigating the scene.
The same day, flames completely destroyed two house buildings in Donpamai village, Sisattanak district, on Wednesday, resulting in damages estimated at some 900 million kip.
Some 18 police firefighting personnel and volunteers from Vientiane Rescue were called to the scene, with officers able to put out the fire before it spread more widely.
Police deployed three fire trucks to control the blaze, which engulfed the houses rapidly. Fire fighters needed two hours to extinguish the flames completely.
Both of these houses were also concrete downstairs and wood upstairs.
The fire started at the residence of Mr. Phetsamone, 56, and spread to a house owned by Mr. Khamphery, also 56, leaving both in charred ruins.
Police confirm that an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire which led to the 900 million kip damages bill.
The last two fires occurred on Friday afternoon, one at a house in Nongduang village, Chanthabouly district and the other at a warehouse in Sikhai village, Sikhottabong district.
According to initial estimates, the losses are thought to be considerable. The police and other authorities are currently investigating the scenes and are in the process of assessing those costs. In the month of August, five cases of fire were reported in the capital including two houses, one warehouse, one company premises, two apartment buildings and one furniture factory.
The department advised the public to check electrical devices before leaving home, to take care when burning rubbish and not to let children play with fire.
The department also repeated its warning for people to be on their guard against accidental fires and not to take risks with electrical wiring or appliances, or to leave burning candles unattended.
Source: Vientiane Times
