At 8:00am, Thalang police, Kusoldham rescuers and Tepkasattri fire department rushed to the scene in Soi Khundon 1 where the one-storey house was on fire.
Officials found residents spraying water onto the tabernacle inside the house. It took officials and residents 45 minutes to put out the fire.
The house owner, Pitsanu Solsiri, 44, told police he lit up the joss stick to honour the gods on the tabernacle as part of his daily routine before he and his family left the house.
At 7:50am, Mr Pitsanu received a call from a neighbour who said he could see smoke coming from the house.
The ceiling was falling apart and was badly burnt, while several pieces of furniture were damaged by the fire.
Police believe the fire may have started from the lit joss stick.