Bacolod City BFP: Fire raged for 22 hours
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least P5 million worth of goods were destroyed last Monday following a fire that struck a grocery store in Bacolod City’s Barangay Handumanan.
Bacolod City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Fire Marshal, Fire Chief Inspector Publio Ploteña, said the fire totally destroyed the grocery store.
He said the fire initially started around 1:00 a.m., at least two hours before the blaze in Purok Cagaycay in the city’s Barangay 2. The BFP official noted, the case is already pending submission of an affidavit of loss.
The fire marshal added, it took 22 hours before a “fire out” was declared.
When asked why it took awhile for firefighters to contain the blaze, Ploteña said they were forced to respond to Barangay 2 first as the blaze there was considered a “huge threat” to human life.
He said, after the fire out was declared in Purok Cagaycay, they immediately returned to Barangay Handumanan and resumed firefighting operations.
Ploteña further noted the smoke in the establishment hampered their abilities; along with the large quantity plastic wares and carton boxes, which further fueled the blaze.
As for the cause of the blaze, the fire marshal said it is still being investigated, although earlier reports indicate the fire was caused by an overheated air conditioning unit./DGB, WDJ