By Carla Bauto Deña
ALFONSO, Cavite - The municipal government has banned the use of electric devices in the public market in Barangay Luksuin Ibaba starting today, June 16, after a huge fire gutted a building over the weekend.
(BFP Alfonso)
Initial investigation showed the blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit from a plugged water heater.
"Aming ipapatupad ang pagbabawal ng anumang electric na pangluto at magluto ng pagkain o maging magpainit ng tubig sa kanilang pwesto maliban sa mga carenderia. Sana po ay maunawaan ninyo ito (We will prohibit the use of any electric cooking device as well as cooking or water heating in market stalls, except for eateries. We hope for your understanding on this matter)," Mayor Randy Salamat announced on his Facebook page Monday.
Last Saturday, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Alfonso, under the supervision of Chief SINSP Allan Rojales, responded to the fire scene after receiving a report from a concerned citizen around 9 p.m.
The blaze reached fifth alarm as flames quickly engulfed stalls containing dry goods.
"Mercantile occupancy, structure na malawak tapos tabi-tabi ang mga nagtitinda (Mercantile occupancy, it was a large structure with rows of stalls)," BFP-Alfonso Public Information Services Chief FO1 Mary Jane Napadao told Manila Bulletin.
About 19 fire trucks and several volunteer firefighters responded to the fire that was controlled past midnight of Sunday, June 14.
There were no casualty or injuries reported.
"Isang factor siguro, yung mga tao, iba ang state of being nila ngayon kasi quarantine pa, siguro kaya nagmamadali... Nakakalimutan na may naka-plug palang electrical devices (One possible factor is that people might have been in a hurry because of the quarantine they forgot to unplug an electrical device)," BFP-Alfonso
Investigation and Intelligence Unit Chief SFO1 Narvin Del Rosario told Manila Bulletin.
Damage to property was estimated at P200,000.