Residents: Local firefighters were slow to respond

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A fire engulfed much of the Manapla Public Market yesterday morning, resulting in an estimated P45 million worth of damages to goods and property.

Based on initial information provided by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the blaze reportedly began sometime around 3:20 a.m.

The fire is believed to have started at a coffee shop located inside the facility.

The blaze quickly spread across the establishment, destroying a total of 58 market blocks.

Around 90 percent of structure was gutted.

Local residents claimed the local BFP did not respond on time, noting, a fire truck from Victorias City arrived on the scene first.

In a radio interview, Manapla municipal fire marshal, Senior Fire Officer 2 Frankie Guillem, admitted they only had three on-duty personnel at the town’s fire station at the time of the incident as remaining personnel were asleep.

However, Guillem denied accusations their two fire trucks were not supplied with water.

Following the incident, BFP-Negros Occidental fire marshal, Fire Superintendent Pamela Rojane Candido, also paid a visit to the site in order to assess the damage.

Meanwhile, the Manapla municipal government has already promised financial assistance.

Arson investigators are presently conducting further investigation into the cause of the blaze./DGB, WDJ