Mayor orders probe on BCGC fire

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan to investigate the fire that hit the Bacolod City Government Center last Oct 14, 2020.

In a memorandum issued Friday night, Leonardia directed Bayatan to create an investigation committee.

The committee is tasked to investigate the circumstances and to submit a report to the City Mayor not later than Oct 23.

Three fire trucks of the Bureau of Fire Protection rushed to the Bacolod City Government Center Thursday morning after learning that smoke billowed from the Administrative Office on the third floor of the building.

Executive assistant Celestino Guara, cluster head on peace and order, and police matters, and head of the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), said that some offices at the third floor of the BCGC were temporarily closed Thursday and reopened Friday.

Guarra said the fire damaged P50,000 worth of properties, based on the report submitted by Fire Officer 1 Paul Servano to the BFP.

He told reporters that a POSO guard assigned to the BCGC smelled something burning at the third floor of the building.

When he checked the area, he saw smoke inside the Administrative Office, which is beside the City Mayor’s Office.

So, he immediately called the BFP at about 6 a.m., Guarra said.

Guara said the water sprinklers helped quell the fire which damaged only a few tables, computers and some documents.

He also added that the arson investigator is still looking into the origin of the fire, suspecting electrical short circuit due to the heavy downpour Wednesday night.