TO PROBE CALOOCAN FIRE
[PHOTO FROM
ABS-CBN- Residents watch the fire engulfing the Ever Gotesco Grand
Central mall in Caloocan City. The fire that started Friday evening and
continued until Saturday totally damaged the mall. Photo by
Vincent Go for ABS-CBNnews.com]
MANILA,
MARCH 19, 2012 (BULLETIN) Two
fires hit residential areas in Quezon City and San Juan the other night.
A fire hit a residential area in Don Antonio Heights, Quezon City. The fire
reportedly started at 10:15 p.m.
Rudy Padirao, 37, sustained burns on both arms as he went back inside their
burning house to salvage some of their valuables. Witnesses told fire probers
that the injured victim and his family had already exited their house safely but
went back inside.
Some 25 houses were destroyed by the fire which reached the 5th alarm and was
placed under control at around 10:30 p.m. As a result, 75 families were rendered
homeless. Firemen were told that a lit candle that was placed at an altar might
have caused the fire.
They have yet to confirm this theory as they conduct an investigation on the
cause of the fire.
Meanwhile, a fire destroyed 10 houses in San Jose Street, Barangay Batis, San
Juan at 4:56 a.m.
Fire Chief Inspector Gilbert Dulot said that the fire reached the 2nd alarm
and was eventually put out at 6:04 a.m. Despite the loss of property, there was
no one hurt or killed during the fire.
Some 10 San Juan City residential houses were razed by fire yesterday
morning.
The Bureau of Fire Protection- San Juan City reported the fire originated
from the house at 82 San Jose corner San Pablo Streets in Barangay Batis and
started at 4:56 a.m. yesterday.
Fire quickly razed down the affected house but first responders at the
incident prevented the spread of fire which only reached 2nd alarm.
Fire Chief Marshall Gilbert Dolot declared the fire out at 6:04 a.m. No one
was reported hurt or injured and there were no reported casualties in the
incident. The cost of damages and cause of the fire is still under
investigation.
Meanwhile, the fire affecting the Ever Gotesco Grand Central Mall in Caloocan
City still rages at presstime, but has already been declared under control by
firefighters.
Caloocan Fire Chief, Fire Supt. Oscar De Asis said that the fire was declared
under control at 11:45 p.m.
The fire has been raging for around 30 hours and has shown no indication that
it might be put out soon.
As late as 9 a.m. certain pockets of the mall are still being consumed by
fire, especially the upper floors. Because of this, firefighters have resorted
to using aerial ladders to access the upper floors of the said mall which are
still being destroyed by flames.
Aside from this, firefighters from Valenzuela City were forced to destroy a
glass wall of a sports supplies store to be able to access an area in the first
floor that was then being gutted down by the fire.
So far, 17 persons were reported injured, among them fire volunteers: Renato
Sabar and Mark Jeffrey Lucdan, while a policeman, Police Officer 2 Noel
Sanggalang was also injured. Both fire volunteers suffered cuts on the palm
while the policeman suffered a cut on the arm. Fire investigators pegged the
estimated damage to property at P500,000.
Stall owners, who have maintained their "vigil" in the vicinity of the mall,
are hopeful that they may eventually be allowed to enter to save whatever is
left of their wares.
The Caloocan City Police operatives deployed to provide security in the area
have disallowed anyone to enter so as to prevent possible looting and to protect
those who insist on entering from harm's way. The thick black smoke billowing
from certain areas of the mall continue to be offensive to the eyes and may
possibly cause suffocation to anyone who is exposed to it for a long period of
time.
FROM ABS-CBN
BFP to create special team to probe Caloocan fire
ABS-CBNnews.com Posted at 03/18/2012 1:18 PM | Updated as of
03/18/2012 7:07 PM
MANILA, Philippines – Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse
Robredo has formally ordered the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to conduct a
probe after a fire engulfed the Ever Gotesco Grand Central Mall in Caloocan City
for more than 30 hours.
Robredo personally asked BFP Director for Plans and Standards Development
Chief Superintendent Carlito Romero to spearhead the investigation.
Romero said Robredo wants to know what really caused the fire after he
received reports that the mall was intentionally burnt.
Romero said the BFP will also look into reports firefighters were initially
not allowed to enter the mall.
Romero said they will also probe whether the mall's water sprinklers
functioned.
According to Romero, they will create a special team for this and it will
closely work with BFP's anti-arson task force.
As of posting, firefighters are still trying to put out the fire, which
started Friday night.
The fire blazed anew on Sunday morning and spread to the fourth floor of the
building. – from a report by Dennis Datu, dzMM
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
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