By Kier Edison Belleza CEBU CITY – It might take two to three days before firefighters can control the fire that hit the Metro Ayala Center Cebu mall located at the Cebu Business Park on Friday evening, a fire official said. In a statement, Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI) said smoke was seen coming out of the stock room for toys on the third floor at around 9:30 p.m. of January 5. Authorities received the fire alarm 14 minutes later. Firefighters from different municipalities and cities battle the raging fire that hit the five-storey Metro Ayala Center Cebu mall on Friday evening, January 5, 2018.  The fire alarm has reached Task Force Bravo. (Photo by: Juan Carlo de Vela) mbnewspictures / mbnewspix The fire has been raging for 18 hours as of 3:30 p.m. Saturday. It has reached Task Force Bravo, which corresponds to a seventh alarm, at 8:45 a.m. Around 50 fire trucks from different towns and cities in southern and northern parts of Cebu went on shifts to help put out the fire since Friday night. Zero Visibility Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – Central Visayas Assistant Regional Director for Operations Supt. Rolando Orbeta said the firefighters were having a difficult time entering the fire scene as they were limited by their breathing apparatus. “There is zero visibility inside and it’s really hot. What we did was to hammer portions of the façade of the building to let the smoke and heat out because once it is ventilated, from there we can penetrate,” Orbeta said. “When it comes to fire trucks and water resources, we do not have a problem. In fact, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District has diverted its concentration in this area,” he added. No one trapped All customers and personnel were safely evacuated, according to the mall management. It helped that the fire broke out just when the mall was closing for the night. Orbeta said the BFP cannot give an assurance that the fire can be immediately put out as “fire danger” still exists in the area. The fire crew continue to take a very cautious approach.  “What we can assure our people is that we are doing our very best to put out the fire, we are trying our best to stop it in 24 hours,” he added. Fire is ‘contained’ The fire official noted that the fire has been ‘contained’ within its current perimeter. Containment of a fire means authorities have surrounded the blaze with fire lines or control lines to prevent it from spreading to other portions of an establishment. The cause of the fire was still unknown, as of this posting. Cops deployed to avoid looting Cebu City Police Office Director Sr. Supt Joel Doria, in a separate interview, said cops were immediately fielded to back up firefighters and mall safety personnel. Doria said this will prevent instances of looting and “maybe a bigger damage to properties.” Doria said some policemen were also deployed to man the traffic on streets around the area.  He assured the police will stay in the area until the fire has been declared under control. A passerby pulls up his shirt to cover his nose as a haze alert was raised by Cebu Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Nagiel Banacia on Saturday morning due to the thick smoke that engulfed the Cebu Business Park. (Photo by: Juan Carlo de Vela) mbnewspictures / mbnewspix Haze alert up The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) has also raised a haze alert over the Cebu Business Park and its nearby areas as smoke continues to billow from the mall, as of this posting. “Everyone living or staying near Cebu Business Park, who have cardio-vascular problem, are advised to temporarily evacuate or transfer to a safer area due to heavy hazardous or toxic fumes from the ongoing fire,” said CCDRRMO Chief Nagiel Bañacia. As of 3 a.m. Saturday, Bañacia said the fourth floor of the department store had collapsed. He advised residents, especially those with respiratory problems, of barangays Kamputhaw, Luz, Hippodromo, Mabolo and Lahug to visit the health centers. “These centers are open and are manned by personnel from the City Health Department (CHD),” Bañacia said. The CHD staff, led by Dr. Alice Aycardo, have also checked on the health condition of the responders. On an average day, more than 85,000 people visit the mall, with the figure increasing up to 135,000 on weekends. Meanwhile, Vincent Tomaneng, Corporate Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel of MRSGI, said they will take care of mall employees whose work has been affected by the fire.  “The company will make the necessary arrangements in due time.” Tomaneng said the Metro Ayala and Ayala Center Cebu Emergency Brigade Teams have been closely working with the BFP and other emergency response teams to manage the situation. Mall management has thanked “the firefighters, volunteers, government personnel, its employees, concerned citizens, and all those who have helped and assisted in putting out the fire.”