P14-M in properties destroyed in warehouse fire

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod said that electrical ignition was the initial cause of a fire that razed three makeshift warehouses at the Upper East Megaworld in Barangay 41 here last Wednesday.

Fire Officer 2 Rolin Paulan, arson investigator of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod, said the blaze broke out around 2:20 p.m. at the plumbing storage area of the Multitrade Corporation.

The fire also affected the warehouses of Micro star Corporation and Romsam Corporation, which store electrical and plumbing materials, he added.

Paulan, however, did not elaborate further on the cause of the fire pending further investigation.

Paulan said the blaze left an estimated P14 million worth of damage.

In a statement, Harold Geronimo, Megaworld’s vice president of Public Relations and Media Affairs, said the fire incident only affected the temporary warehouse and office facility of their contractors.

This is neither a staff house nor a construction site, he added.

Geronimo said the nearby construction sites as well as residential towers were safe.

“We thank the Bacolod City Fire Station, the BFP, and all the local fire chambers for their fast response to the fire call,” Geronimo said, adding that the incident only lasted about 30 minutes because of the efficient fire response of the city.

Fire out was declared by 2:55 p.m. according to the BFP. No injuries were reported.