By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga 

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in San Carlos City strongly believes that the fire, which gutted the main building of the Colegio De Sta. Rita on Monday night, August 14, was likely caused by faulty electrical wiring.

BFP-San Carlos City Fire Marshall, Chief Inspector Rufino Tañedo, Jr. said gathered evidence, including electrical items, determining the cause of the blaze has now been forwarded to its national headquarters’ arson laboratory.

They are continuing their probe into the school’s electrical systems.

Tañedo said they will release the findings once they are available.

Earlier, the school’s security guard said he heard an explosion, and the building suffered a power outage before the fire.

Based on historical records, the building was constructed in the 1930s and was under renovation prior to the blaze.

As the building is now completely gutted, Tañedo recommends that it will be demolished.

They are waiting for the findings of the city engineering office, which currently conducts rapid assessment and needs analysis on the infrastructure.

School registrar, Sr. Damiana De Tafalla A.R. said it is very likely that the building will be demolished and a new one will be constructed instead.

The fire caused P18 million worth of damage and also affected around 800 students, prompting school officials to temporarily suspend classes for both senior high school and college students./DGB, WDJ