Night market fire in Phitsanulok damages 20 stalls, tourists shaken

Early Saturday morning on August 15, 2026, at 02:30, a large fire broke out at the night market in downtown Phitsanulok. Phitsanulok City firefighters and crews from nearby stations rushed to contain the blaze after reports of smoke rising from metal stall frames along the road, where the night market operates for tourists and locals. Initial inspections found about 20 stalls damaged by fire; some were small restaurants and food carts that stored large quantities of food and beverages.

An eyewitness, Mr. Somchai (alias), a seller of local sweets, said he woke up to the smell of burning and saw flames coming from a nearby stall. Within minutes the fire spread rapidly to adjacent stalls because most were made of highly flammable materials, and strong winds at the time made firefighting difficult. Many items were completely destroyed by the flames.

Firefighters said it took about one hour to contain the blaze, and the fire was fully extinguished at 03:45. The Phitsanulok Provincial Police closed traffic and cordoned off the area temporarily to keep residents and tourists away. Investigations into the cause are ongoing; authorities have not yet confirmed whether the fire was caused by an electrical short, a gas stove in a food stall, or another reason. Police collected evidence and CCTV footage from nearby shops for the case file.

The fire has had a wide impact on vendors’ incomes in the market. Many who served tourists the previous night now face losses of goods and equipment. Dr. Somchai, head of the municipal public health section, said the municipality has deployed teams to provide initial assistance, including distributing food, drinking water, and basic medicines to those affected, and is coordinating with foundations and local agencies to find temporary shelter for vendors whose stalls were so badly damaged they cannot resume selling immediately.

Some tourists who had visited the market for dinner the night before reported feeling shaken and said they were unsure whether they would return, citing concerns over electrical safety and fire prevention at the market. The Phitsanulok tourism authority issued a brief statement about tourist safety, saying it will work with local agencies to improve fire-prevention measures, remove hazards, and upgrade electrical systems to meet standards.

Going forward, authorities will compile damage information and assess the value of losses from the fire to guide compensation efforts. Phitsanulok City Municipality said it will open donation channels and provide financial and livelihood recovery assistance to affected vendors. At the same time, building and electrical safety experts will inspect the entire night market environment to prevent future incidents and reassure residents and tourists that visiting Phitsanulok will be safer.