130 guns destroyed as fire breaks out at Surin defence volunteer base
A fire burnt down the living quarters and firearms storage room of a defence volunteer base in Surin, destroying 130 guns and ammunition, officials said on Tuesday.
Officials at the Surin 1 Defence Volunteer Company said the fire had started at 3.35pm on Monday, and that officials from several agencies were still checking the cause of the blaze.
Eight fire engines took an hour to control the blaze after it had already consumed the entire building, located on the Surin-Prasat road in Mueang district’s Tambon Chaniang.
During the fire, explosions were heard as ammunition went up in flames, officials said.
More than 130 M16 assault rifles, shotguns and pistols, along with ammunition, were kept in the storage room.
The fire also damaged a vehicle of the defence company.
Reporters were not allowed to enter the compound on Tuesday morning as the cause of the fire was still being investigated.
