By Jen Baylon

An improperly discarded lighted cigarette was believed to have sparked a fire at a condominium building under construction in Bacolod City’s Barangay 41 on Thursday, February 1.

Chief investigator Fire Officer Rollin Paulan of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Bacolod said, based on investigation, some cigarette butts were found on the third and fourth floors of the 14-storey condominium after the blaze.

Paulan said the fire lasted for 40 minutes, after the BFP declared fire out at 12:34 p.m.

The BFP raised the incident to third alarm to prevent extensive damage.

Despite not being considered a major fire by the BFP, the high-rise infrastructure, owned by a property developer, posed challenges for the firefighters due to the lack of fire trucks equipped with large ladders.

They have to ascend the building’s stairs to facilitate the penetration of the fire engine.

The blaze did not result in injuries or fatalities, but left an estimated P5.2 million in damages.

Paulan also emphasized the importance of strictly enforcing a no-smoking policy, particularly at construction sites.

Meanwhile, the condominium’s contractor, MRK Construction, affirmed responsibility for the building, and was coordinating with the property developer for an investigation.

In December of last year, a fire also broke out in a temporary warehouse and office facility on the same property./JB, WDJ