CHIANG RAI — 13 October 2026, Authorities are investigating the cause and assessing damage after a fire broke out at the Ministry of Finance Government Centre in Chiang Rai on Wednesday evening.
Chiang Rai Municipality received a report at 6:33pm on 14 October of a fire inside the complex in Rob Wiang subdistrict, Muang Chiang Rai district.
Firefighters, rescue crews and municipal officials were deployed to the scene. The blaze reportedly began at an electrical control cabinet on the first floor before spreading along electrical cables to meter boxes on the fifth floor.
Officials brought the fire under control in about two hours and ventilated the building to clear smoke. The Provincial Electricity Authority was called in to handle the electrical system.
Chiang Rai Governor Chucheep Pongchai and Chiang Rai Mayor Wanchai Chongthanasornamanee monitored the operation alongside officials from government agencies, police, electricity authorities and local rescue organisations.
Police and forensic officers are investigating the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.