Dry chemical fire extinguishers are being found at garbage dumps or near fire stations in Bangkok, after their owners became concerned over their safety, according to Thirayuth Phumisak, director of the Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

The sudden concern over the safety of fire extinguishers began after a fire drill accident on Friday at the Rachawinit School, during which one fire extinguisher, filled with carbon dioxide, burst, killing a student and injuring 10 other people.

Thirayuth said today (Sunday) that a number of people had called his office, offering to return fire extinguishers because they doubt about their safety, adding that he has instructed firemen at every fire station in the capital to assure people in crowded communities that the fire extinguishers, which have been installed there by the BMA, contain a dry chemical, unlike the fire extinguishers used for demonstrations, which contain with carbon dioxide.

He also said that, if people are unsure of their safety, they can contact the BMA or the Office of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and officials will be sent to check the extinguishers.