Chinese New Year candles cause house fire

2026-02-16 - 06:16

NAKHON PATHOM — 16 February 2026, A fire broke out at a townhouse in Nakhon Pathom on Tuesday morning after candles lit for Chinese New Year prayers were reportedly not fully extinguished, officials said. Police at Mueang Nakhon Pathom station received a report of the blaze at 10:30 at a house in the Phra Ngam community, 445 Phra Pathom Chedi subdistrict, within Nakhon Pathom municipality. Officers rushed to the scene and alerted their superiors while coordinating with the Nakhon Pathom Suk Sala Nukhro Foundation and the municipal disaster prevention and mitigation unit. Firefighters, led by Mayor Somchoke Pongkwan, found flames spreading from the second floor of a two-storey concrete townhouse, alarming nearby residents. Crews took more than 20 minutes to bring the fire under control. Initial inspections showed damage around a household altar, where candles had been lit for worship. Authorities said the blaze was likely caused by a candle that had not been fully put out, allowing embers to ignite nearby combustible materials. The homeowner was identified as Thongsuk Chaihawong, 72. Preliminary questioning indicated that family members had conducted Chinese New Year prayers at the second-floor altar earlier in the day, lighting incense sticks and candles. After completing the ritual, they are believed to have left without ensuring the candles were completely extinguished. Passers-by noticed smoke billowing from the second-floor windows and doors and alerted police, prompting a swift response from emergency services. No injuries were reported.