A fire swept through a nightclub in Bangkok, Thailand on New Years Day.  This was no ordinary fire though. 

Current count of the dead numbers 60 with over 200 injured. One report stated that 8 were burned beyond recognition.  Others died from smoke inhalation, burns and injuries from the stampede of people trying to flee the fire through only one available exit.

The suspected cause was fireworks.

A report quoted a club worker as saying that explosions were heard shortly after the new year countdown ended and someone shouted, "Fire!"

Andrew Jones, a teacher in Bangkok from Salt Ash, England, was a witness to the fire.  He stated that he saw corpses that were charred beyond recognition as well as victims who had burns over 90 percent of their bodies.  Quote: "Bodies, some of them probably alive, were falling off the stretchers as the rescue workers rushed them away. The flames were glowing through the broken glass windows."  According to Jones, a part of the building had already collapsed before he arrived and the ceiling over the front entrance to the club collapsed moments after he got out of the building.

A maid said she saw sparks fall on the rug and within seconds the room was filled with smoke.

This fire is different than most because of the speed and intensity with which it developed.   The building was made of concrete, not wood. 

One witness said the lights went out and then he was breathing hot air.  This situation is consistent with an electromagnetic pulse.  Other buildings nearby also appeared charred with the windows blown out.

A fire started by fireworks would be more gradual.  People inside did not have a sense of urgency because they did not expect the fierceness of the fire.  It was not something in their experience. 

One witness said he saw fireworks inside the building, but he could have been confused by the sparks that fell from the first story ceiling over the stage as being like fireworks.  Another witness said there were no fireworks. 

There are two kinds of fire: one is made by rubbing two sticks together, and another made from plasma.  Plasma fire is used today in medical uses and in welding.  Historically plasma fire was known as Greek fire and was made with secret ingredients known only to the ancient Turks. 

Plasma fire burns much hotter than regular fire since it is made up of very energetic particles or pieces of atoms (ions and electrons).  Water can cool regular fire down fast and thus put it out.  However, plasma fire cannot be cooled enough by water to squelch it.

Where did the plasma fire come from?  It came from an electromagnetic phenomenon : ball lightning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hRi0WB3R9Y&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5RW9oaN3uc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz1SiRahGgc&NR=1