Personnel from the Bantay Mandaue CDRRMO help put out a fire in a warehouse in Sitio Fatima, Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City on Tuesday night, September 5, 2023. | Photo from Bantay Mandaue CDRRMO
CEBU CITY, Philippines – At least P1.5 million in properties went up in smoke after a fire hit a warehouse in Mandaue City late Tuesday evening, September 5, 2023.
Flames gobbled up a family-owned warehouse, which was being used to store lumber, in Sitio Fatima, Brgy. Maguikay past 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
A 30-year-old man, identified as Ariel Gulfan, also sustained injuries while trying to escape the fire, the Mandaue City Fire Office said.
Firefighters received the alarm at 9:56 p.m. Due to the presence of light materials, they immediately raised the first alarm by 9 p.m.
However, the fire spread rapidly to other portions of the warehouse, prompting firefighters to raise it to 2nd and 3rd alarms at 10:05 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. respectively.
It took them approximately an hour to put the flames under control. By 10:53 p.m., fire officials declared fire under control. Fire out was declared at 3:17 a.m. on Wednesday, September 6.
Damages were pegged at P1.5 million, said Fire Officer 1 Cyrus Albert Ytang of the Mandaue City Fire Office.
Quoting initial findings from fire investigators, the fire reportedly originated at one of the warehouse’s flush doors on the ground floor.
Meanwhile, investigations continue to determine the cause of the fire, Ytang said.
/bmjo
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