Firefighters train their hose on a house (not in photo) to prevent it from catching fire while the fire continues to destroy the Cebu Bazaar warehouse at Laguardia Compound extension in barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
(CDN Photo/Junjie Mendoza)
Thick black smoke could be seen billowing out of an interior portion of barangay Lahug as fire razed a warehouse of retailer Cebu Bazaar yesterday afternoon.
FO3 Ferlando Iban, investigator of Lahug Fire Substation, estimated the damage to the structure alone at P200,000. The value of clothing and rolls of fabric destroyed by the fire was still undetermined.
Fortunately, the fire was contained in the bodega and did not spread to nearby residences and commercial establishments.
Iban said the blaze may have been caused by an electrical short circuit. It also destroyed the garage of Cebu Bazaar owner Johnny Co.
No one was reported injured. About 10 to 15 employees of Cebu Bazaar were in the warehouse when the fire broke out.
“One of the wielders said they heard a sudden burst. When they checked, they found an electrical wire on a piece of cloth. This might have ignited the fire. They immediately ran outside to get a fire extinguisher but it was too late,” Iban told reporters in Cebuano.
Iban said they received the alarm at 3:55 p.m. yesterday. The fire was declared under control about 30 minutes later at but fire fighters were still trying to completely douse it as of 7:25 p.m. last night.
Iban said they had to use chemical foam to douse the fire.
“It only reached the first alarm. The first responders determined that the fire is confined in one area but we had to use chemical foam because the fire could easily rekindle due to the rolls oftextiles. We had a hard time penetrating the interior area,” Iban said.
Jinggoy Lacarion, one of the workers in the warehouse, said they ran to get a fire extinguisher or water to douse the fire but the fire had gone up to the ceiling by the time they got back inside.
The warehouse was located in an interior portion of La Guardia Extension in Lahug. Commercial establishments nearby, like Metrosports and Tree Shade Spa, had to close for the day and instructed their staff to stay outside.
Iban said they were not aware that a warehouse full of clothing was in the area because they did not receive any request for inspection.
He said the Cebu Bazaar owners may not get a certification from his office to support their insurance claim.
“I am the inspector of Lahug. We are not aware of this warehouse. Naay possibility nga dili sila matagaan sa certification once nga mangayo sila for the insurance but we still have to ask the higher office for their recommendation,” Iban said.
Co, who was at the site, declined to be interviewed.
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