Fire damages Hollywood film set in Thailand

[November 21, 2013]  BANGKOK (AP) — A fire damaged a film set in northern Thailand where Owen Wilson and Lake Bell have been filming a Hollywood thriller, police and the production company said Thursday.

Both stars of "The Coup" had left the set for the day and were unharmed, said Korrawuth Arsana, a spokesman for Living Films.

The film is about an American family that gets caught in a military coup in Southeast Asia. It also stars Pierce Brosnan, who is due to join the film shoot next month.

Before the fire, the cast had filmed an explosion scene inside a dilapidated building in the town of Lampang, Korrawuth said.

"We had finished filming after the explosion scene," he said. "As the crew was packing and moving things downstairs somebody saw the fire on the third floor of the building."

Police Col. Thanakorn Khumwong said investigators suspect the high voltage required by the special effects caused an electrical short circuit that caused the fire.

Thai PBS television station showed footage of flames shooting from an upper window of the building as firefighters on the sidewalk worked to extinguish them Wednesday evening.

Korrawuth said that a new location would be found for filming the remainder of the explosion scene due to extensive fire and water damage to the set.

[Associated Press]

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