At 4:30 PM on December 9, 2024, a fire broke out at the Nerndin Daeng Rubber Cooperative’s drying facility in Huai Raeng Subdistrict, Mueang District, Trat Province. Firefighters from Huai Raeng and Tha Kum Subdistricts responded with two fire trucks to control the blaze.
The fire originated in drying chamber No. 1, which contained approximately 1,800 rubber sheets, weighing about 2,000 kilograms. The intense flames damaged over 100 roof panels before firefighters extinguished the fire in about 30 minutes. Employees worked quickly to move rubber sheets near the fire to a safe area.
Kriengkrai Thepinthararuk, President of the cooperative, attributed the fire to sparks from a furnace used in the drying process. The sparks likely ignited nearby rubber sheets, causing the fire to spread rapidly.
According to Boonchu Sikkarettrakun, 62, a cooperative member, the damage is estimated at around 1 million baht, including losses to rubber sheets and structural damage. Rubber in drying chambers No. 2 and No. 3 also sustained partial damage, making it unsuitable for sale. The cooperative plans to suspend rubber drying operations temporarily but will continue purchasing raw latex as repairs are made.