Thick, black smoke can be seen rising from the burning warehouse in Sitio Pilit, Barangay Cabancalan, Mandaue City on Thursday, February 11, 2021.. The blaze was put under control more than 12 hours since it started. CDN Digital photo | Mary Rose Sagarino
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines – The fire that hit a warehouse that was used to store paints in Sitio Pilit, Barangay Cabancalan here on Thursday dawn, February 11, 2021, took more than 12 hours to bring under control.
The Mandaue City Fire Station (MCFS) received the alarm at 2:37 a.m. then was raised to third alarm at 3:06 a.m. The fire department put the fire under control at 2:45 p.m. or 12 hours and 8 minutes since it started.
As of this writing, firefighters continue to put out the fire more than 17 hours since the alarm started.
Chief Inspector Noel Nelson Ababon, Mandaue City Fire Marshall, said they are having difficulty in putting out the blaze because of the highly flammable components in the paints.
The MCFS has decided to use the Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) liquid concentrate to extinguish the fire faster.
“Ang tubig dili nato kaayo masaligan kay chemicals man gud ang involved, dili lang kaayo makaya sa tubig,” said Ababon.
Ababon added that there are no houses affected as the fire is confined in the company’s compound.
He said the warehouse has no night operations and only the security guard was left when the fire started.
Investigators from the Mandaue City Fire Department are still working to determine the cause of the fire.
“Dili pa mi pwede muhatag og statement about sa investigation kay gitino pa sa ato’ng imbestigador kay sige pa man ato’ng fighting, although naa sila nakuha nga gamay nga detalye apan ato nang follow-upon oras nga mapalong nato ang kayo kay ato man imbitahon ang tag-iya ug ang security guard on duty,” he said.
Buddy Alain Ybañez, head of the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MCDRRMO) said households and families near the storehouse were immediately evacuated and were given hot meals by the City Social Welfare and Services.
As of 7 p.m today, Felix Suico Jr. MCDRRMO operations head, said the families have already returned to their houses. /rcg