Operations intact despite Hilux plant fire

The plant, at which a blaze broke out on Sunday at an engine-oil warehouse, has an annual capacity of 220,000 units. Operating three plants in the Kingdom, Toyota’s combined Thai capacity is 650,000 units per annum.
 Vichien Emprasertsuk, senior vice president of the country’s largest auto-maker, said that despite the fire, the Ban Pho facility was operating as usual. “The incident does not affect the production or the supply of parts to our dealers,” he said.
 The fire is estimated to have cost Bt50 million in initial damage, according to Toyota’s statement. There were no reports of casualties, as most workers were off duty for the weekend.
 Pairoj Hirunruangrong, senior president of Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Engineering and Manufacturing, said the fire had destroyed the storage area, pallets, engine oil and 10 forklift trucks.
 Toyota is working with government agencies in Chachoengsao to evaluate the impact of the incident on the nearby community, he said, adding, “Toyota will take all responsibility for this.”
 A dozen fire trucks were sent to the assembly plant and the blaze was put out before midnight on Sunday. No chemicals or foam were used in extinguishing the fire, the company said in the statement.
 Sporadic explosions were heard during the fire.
 Executives of the Toyota plant and Chachoengsao Governor Ruengsak Mahavinitchaimontri visited the site at about midnight on Sunday and held a press briefing later.
 Ruengsak said the company would later yesterday ask the pollution control agency to check whether any pollution was spreading to nearby areas following the fire.
 However, they said they expected no emission of pollutants because no toxic substances were kept in the storage facility, although there was the risk of haze or smoke in the area for a period of time.
 Police initially said they suspected that a worker had left the battery of a forklift truck charging too long, and that it overheated and caused the blaze.