By Philippine News Agency
DUMAGUETE -- Two business establishments located along Dr. V. Locsin Street here were razed by a fire of still unknown origin early morning Wednesday.
Gutted down by the fire are the Times Mercantile, one of the oldest establishments in the city; and Parlem’s Collections of RTWs (ready to wear).
Times Mercantile, which sells liquor and cigarettes, among others, transferred to its present location after its original store was also hit by a fire years back. Its present area was the former location of Cebu Kitchennette, which was also gutted down by a fire.
Arson investigator Fire Officer 1 Mark Susania disclosed that the fire was tapped out at 3:16 a.m. but when they arrived at the fire scene, it already engulfed the entire buildings.
He said while fighting the conflagration, other firemen had to secure the adjacent structures, especially the boarding house.
The conflagration was put under control at 7:23 a.m. and fire out was declared at 12:05 p.m.
Responding fire trucks included that of Bacong, Sibulan, Valencia, Filipino Chinese Fire brigade, the Silliman firetruck, and several engines from the Dumaguete Bureau of Fire Protection.
The arson investigator, however, could not yet determine the damage brought about by the conflagration but estimated it to be in millions of pesos.