Two Real Fires Where the Smoke Travelled Further Than the Flames

This article starts with two real news reports. Together they show that when a fire breaks out in a residential building in Thailand, the damage does not stop at the room where it started.

A 38-storey condominium in Pinklao, Bangkok. On 9 October 2025, at around 13:55, a fire broke out in a 38-storey condominium on Somdet Phra Pinklao Road in Arun Amarin, Bangkok Noi district. Thick black smoke was first seen around the 16th floor and rose up the building. People were reported trapped on the 17th and 24th floors and on a 33rd-floor balcony, and rescuers freed two people stuck in an elevator. Source: Bangkok Biznews, 9 Oct 2025

A Baan Eua-Arthorn housing block in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan. On 28 May 2026, a fire started in a third-floor room of Building 27 at the Baan Eua-Arthorn Bang Chalong project. Heavy smoke spread across the building and more than ten residents fled. Firefighters brought it under control in about 30 minutes. Officials suspected a short circuit near the room's electrical board. Source: Khaosod, 28 May 2026

Both incidents share one thing: the fire began in a single place, but the smoke moved through the whole building along corridors, stairwells, lift shafts and the gaps under doors. Many units that the flames never reached were still affected.

Where the Smoke Went, the Smell Stayed

When the fire is out and residents are allowed back, many find their unit looks exactly as they left it. No burn marks, no water from the hoses. But the moment they open the door, a sharp burnt smell rushes out.

Smoke odor is different from most household smells because it is not only in the air. Smoke contains extremely fine soot particles and chemical compounds from burning plastic, foam, wood, cables and fabric. These particles settle on every surface and work their way into porous materials:

• Curtains and sofas absorb the most odor.
• Mattresses and pillows trap smell deep in the foam.
• Carpets and rugs hold particles between their fibers.
• Clothes in wardrobes pick up smoke even when the doors were closed.
• Painted walls and ceilings carry a thin film of soot that is almost invisible.
• Air-conditioner coils and filters pull smoke in, then blow the smell back out every time the unit is switched on.

Why Smoke Smell Does Not Go Away on Its Own

Many residents wait for the smell to fade, or try whatever is at hand. These efforts usually help only for a short time.

• Leaving windows open clears the smoke still floating in the room, but not the soot stuck to walls, fabrics and furniture.
• Air-freshener sprays create a perfume-and-burnt mix that many people say is worse than the original smell.
• Bowls of coffee grounds or charcoal absorb a tiny amount compared with the size of a room.
• Washing clothes once is often not enough, and clean clothes pick the smell up again when they go back into a smoky wardrobe.
• Using the air conditioner normally spreads the odor through the room every day unless the unit is cleaned and its filters replaced first.

The longer the soot sits, the more firmly it bonds to surfaces. In hot, humid Thai weather, warmth and moisture make the odor rise even more strongly.

The Effect on Health and Daily Life

Smoke from a building fire comes from many materials burning at once: plastics, electrical cables, foam furniture and wall paint. The odor left behind is not just a nuisance. Residents returning to smoke-affected units commonly report:

• Headaches and dizziness after spending time in the room
• Irritated eyes, nose and throat
• Coughing, especially for people with asthma or allergies
• Poor sleep, because the smell rises from pillows and mattresses
• Small children and elderly relatives needing to stay somewhere else

Anyone with breathing difficulty, chest tightness or worsening symptoms should see a doctor promptly and should not move back in until the unit has been cleaned and ventilated.

The Damage That Never Makes the News

News reports usually cover the room where the fire started and the number of injuries. For residents of other units, the losses continue long after the story ends:

• Temporary accommodation. Paying for hotel nights or staying with relatives for days or weeks.
• Empty rental units. Tenants give notice or refuse to move in because of the smell.
• Lower resale value. Buyers who smell smoke during a viewing negotiate hard or walk away.
• Usable furniture thrown away. Owners assume the smell can never come out.
• Complaints to the juristic person. Corridors and lift lobbies that still smell of smoke for weeks.

For an owner renting out a unit in Pinklao or anywhere else, every day the room still smells of smoke is income lost.

The Correct Order for Restoring a Unit After a Fire

Smoke odor removal only works when it is done in the right sequence. If soot is still on the surfaces, the smell will keep coming back.

1. Wait for clearance. Do not re-enter until the authorities or the building management confirm the building is safe and the electrical system has been checked.
2. Ventilate as much as possible. Open windows and use fans to push air out.
3. Photograph all damage. You will need it for insurance claims and for the juristic person.
4. Clean the soot. Wipe walls, floors, window frames and furniture with cleaning products suited to each surface. Wear gloves and a mask.
5. Wash every fabric. Curtains, pillowcases, sheets and clothes, or send them to a professional laundry.
6. Clean the air conditioner and replace its filters before switching it on again.
7. Then use ozone to remove the deep-set odor in the air, inside fabric fibers and in the corners you cannot wipe.

How Ozone Treatment Works on Smoke Odor

Ozone (O₃) is a highly reactive gas. When a professional ozone generator releases it into a closed, empty room, the gas spreads into every corner: inside wardrobes and drawers, under beds, behind sofas and into curtain fibers. There it reacts with many of the odor-causing compounds left by combustion and breaks them down.

This is why fire restoration companies around the world use ozone as one of the final stages of a job. After treatment and ventilation, the leftover ozone naturally turns back into oxygen. No perfume is left behind and no chemical film remains on surfaces.

WHD's ozone service page lists hotel rooms, condominiums and spaces with lingering odor before handover among the areas it treats, which matches the situation after a building fire. See the ozone service

Safety Rules You Must Know Before Any Ozone Treatment

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that ozone can irritate and damage the lungs, causing coughing, chest pain and shortness of breath, and can worsen asthma. The EPA says high-concentration ozone should only be used in unoccupied spaces under controlled conditions, and that ozone does not fully remove contaminants embedded deep in porous materials. Source: US EPA

That is exactly why soot cleaning must come first, and why ozone treatment should be done by professionals:

• No people, pets or plants in the room during treatment.
• Doors and windows closed, with warning signs so nobody walks in.
• Inform the juristic person and neighbors in a condominium building.
• Treatment time set to the room volume by a trained technician.
• Full ventilation before anyone re-enters.

10 Reasons Master Ozone Generator Suits Smoke-Affected Rooms

1. Reaches every gap. Gas spreads into wardrobes, drawers and spaces that wiping cannot reach.
2. Treats fabrics in place. Curtains, sofas and mattresses can be treated in the room after cleaning.
3. Breaks down odor instead of masking it. No perfume mixing with the burnt smell.
4. No chemical residue. Ozone returns to oxygen after ventilation.
5. Saves replacement costs. Items not directly damaged by fire have a real chance of being kept.
6. Gets residents home sooner. Less spent on temporary accommodation.
7. Ideal for rental units. Owners can hand over a room to tenants without a burnt smell.
8. Works in common areas. Corridors, lift lobbies and storage rooms, when they can be closed off safely.
9. Backed by on-site measurements. WHD's service page shows air readings taken at multiple points in real treated areas.
10. Professionally controlled. Our technicians handle assessment, treatment, ventilation and the final check with the owner.

Before and After in a Smoke-Affected Unit

Before treatment (after soot cleaning and laundry):

• A faint burnt smell greets you at the door.
• The smell gets stronger when you open the wardrobe or sit on the sofa.
• Switching on the air conditioner releases a smoky odor.
• Tenants or buyers notice the smell immediately during a viewing.

After ozone treatment and ventilation:

• The burnt smell in the air is clearly reduced.
• Curtains and cushions no longer smell of smoke when touched.
• The unit is ready for residents to return, or for viewings.
• No perfume masking: the room simply smells neutral.

If some odor remains in particular spots, it usually means there is soot that has not yet been cleaned, or material that was directly heat-damaged and needs to be replaced.

Advice for Condominium Juristic Persons

A condo fire is never just one unit's problem. Building management plays a key role in bringing the whole building back to normal.

• Inspect common areas. Check corridors, fire stairs, lift shafts and refuse rooms for soot and lingering odor.
• Check the building's ventilation systems, including stair pressurization fans and exhaust ducts.
• Communicate clearly with residents. Announce cleaning and ozone treatment schedules for common areas so everyone avoids those zones while work is underway.
• Work zone by zone. Seal off each treated area properly and have the technician confirm it is safe before reopening.
• Keep records. Photos and reports help with building insurance and co-owner meetings.

What to Prepare Before the Technician Arrives

A little preparation makes treatment faster and more effective:

• Remove food, drinks and medicines from the room, or seal them in airtight containers.
• Take out houseplants and any pets, including fish tanks where possible.
• Unplug sensitive electronics if the technician advises it.
• Open wardrobe doors and drawers so the gas can reach inside.
• Spread out cushions and pillows rather than leaving them stacked.
• Make sure soot cleaning and laundry are finished first.
• Plan somewhere for the household to stay until the room has been treated and ventilated.

How a WHD Service Visit Works

1. Contact us and send photos on LINE for an initial assessment.
2. Site inspection. Our technician checks odor level and soot, and advises on any cleaning that must happen first.
3. Preparation. Everyone and all pets leave the room. Windows are closed and warning signs are posted.
4. Ozone treatment with the Master Ozone Generator for a time matched to the room volume.
5. Ventilation before anyone goes back in.
6. Check and handover. We walk through the unit with the owner.

Frequently Asked Questions

The fire never reached my unit. Why does it smell? Smoke travels through corridors, lift shafts and gaps under doors. Soot particles settle on fabrics and surfaces even where there are no burn marks.

Is one treatment enough? In most units where soot has been properly cleaned, the smell drops clearly after the first treatment. Heavily affected rooms may need a second session, as assessed by the technician.

When can I go back in? Only after full ventilation, at the time the technician gives you. Never enter while the machine is running.

Do I have to throw away my mattress? If it was not touched by flames or fire-fighting water, the odor can often be removed. If it has burn marks, heavy soot or water damage, it should be replaced.

Can ozone remove black stains on the walls? No. Soot stains must be washed off, or the wall repainted after cleaning. Ozone mainly deals with odor.

Sources and Related Links

• WHD ozone odor and chemical residue service
• World Health Disinfection homepage
• Bangkok Biznews: Fire at a 38-storey Pinklao condominium
• Khaosod: Fire at Baan Eua-Arthorn, Bang Phli
• US EPA: Ozone safety facts

Get Your Home Back After a Fire Nobody Wanted

The fires in Pinklao and Bang Phli showed how one room on fire can disrupt an entire building. The flames were controlled in well under an hour. The smoke smell can stay with residents for weeks if it is not handled properly.

Follow the right order: wait for clearance, ventilate, clean the soot, wash fabrics, service the air conditioner, then have a professional carry out ozone treatment. World Health Disinfection is ready to help owners, tenants and juristic persons with the Master Ozone Generator and a team that works safely.

Call 065-556-6294 or add LINE @whd268 and send photos of your room for advice and a quotation.

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE: @whd268