BACOLOD CITY: An eight-hour fire hit two establishments in Bacolod City on Sunday, February 12, causing damage of more than P20 million.
Chief Inspector Rodel Legaspi, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod chief, said the fire hit
Jean’s Boutique owned by Jean Lumauag and Wan Li Marketing owned by Alex Choi located at Luzuriaga and Locsin Streets in Barangay 27 at the city’s downtown area
The Bacolod City Fire Station received a fire call at 8:33 am that a fire hit Jean’s Boutique. When the fire trucks arrived, the fire had already spread to Wan Li Marketing, Legaspi said.
The fire at Jean’s Boutique was put out before 11 am and at Wan Li Marketing at 4:14 pm, he added.
Firefighters were supposed to declare the fire out at around 11 am but the fire continued to spread to the adjacent building through the ceiling.
The fire status was raised to second alarm, necessitating a response from nearby fire stations.
No injuries were reported but the damage was estimated at P20,234,400.
A witness told arson investigators that he saw sparks from an electrical post and a cloud of thick smoke was then seen billowing from a building.
Legaspi said firefighters reported difficulty in putting out the fire at the third floor of Wan Li Marketing because it was packed with merchandise that left barely any room to move.
The store sells various items ranging from light bulbs, bags, liniments, folding beds to many other household items, he said.
Firefighters from the Amity and Chamber Volunteer fire brigades used vertical ladders to punch holes in the wall of the third floor of Wan Li Marketing using circular saws.
The holes were drilled from Jean’s Boutique and the sides of the building facing Luzuriaga and Locsin streets.
He said because of lack of ventilation and extreme heat it was too dangerous for firefighters to enter.
“The smoke from the burning plastic also hurt the eyes and the odor was difficult to endure,” Legaspi added.
“The holes they drilled enabled ventilation to the area and allowed smoke to exit the third floor.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Legaspi added.