House owner questioned over fire

The police are interrogating the owner of the house where the fire on Tuesday night allegedly started and ended up destroying more than 20 homes in the densely populated Boon Chusri Community near the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) in Bangkok's Din Daeng area.

During a forensic check on the site, police called on the house owner, taxi driver Boonrit Oumpravit, 61, and other members of his family to ask about the cause of the fire. Boonrit said he was on his way home when the fire broke out and later he was far too busy helping his relatives out of the house. He said he did not know what caused the blaze.

Meanwhile, district officials provided food, medical treatment and temporary shelter to some 300 residents. The ONCB also opened its offices to provide temporary housing for 40 families.

Arin Toh-ae, 10, who lives in the area said that he went outside when the fire broke out and returned to find his home burned down. "There is nothing left, not even my school uniform. Now we stay at my grandma's house," he said.