Pol Capt Thanadej Chanmala, an inspector at Tha Ruea Police, said police and firemen raced to the scene after being alerted to a crisis at Wat Saphan 1 Community at around 9.20pm.

Thanadej said the community was a slum with wooden houses packed into a small road. A lot of people had fled with their belongings, but only one fire truck could enter the community at a time. However, firemen were able to control the blaze within 45 minutes.

Police inspected the scene after the fire was brought under control, he said, and found about 30 houses had been destroyed. No one was hurt.

“The cause of the fire is still unknown, as we will have to wait for investigative officers to look at the scene,” he said.

Meanwhile, Klong Toei District Office had already provided temporary shelter for those who lost their homes in the fire – at the sports ground of nearby Samakkhi Songkhro School.

Leader of the community Nittaya Promporcheunboon said they had around 150 occupied houses and at the time of incident a community member told her there was fire at the one of the abandoned houses. She called the police and fire service immediately when she realised that the fire would spread quickly.

Klong Toei district director Atcharawadee Chaisuwirat said that this community had 286 houses in an area of 25 rai but the fire had only damaged about 1 rai of land and homes.

“The victims of this fire are entitled to compensation of Bt1,000 each for the damage to their home and Bt10,000 for the loss of career benefits.

“The affected people can register with the officers today [yesterday],” Atcharawadee said.