DAVAO CITY – The Bureau of Fire Protection is conducting a deeper probe on the cause of the blaze that razed the entire third floor of Gaisano Grand Citygate Mall in Buhangin District on Friday, Jan. 2.

Initial investigation showed that the fire started on the department store of the three-story mall, according to Davao City Fire District (DFCD) Fire Senior Insp. Frances Marie Sendrijas.

DFCD said they received the report on the fire at 3:15 p.m. that reached the third alarm.

The fire was placed under control after three hours and was declared fire out at 7:05 p.m.

Sendrijas said they are conducting further investigation and assessment to determine damage to property.

The fire also spread to the left wing of the second floor after it broke out in the upper level.

Firefighters used boom cranes to put out fire in the upper section of the mall’s left wing. Some of them were seen using breathing apparatus as they put out the fire inside the mall.

The fire resulted in traffic as the mall sits on the intersection leading to one of the biggest residential zones of the city.

Dozens of firetrucks from BFP and volunteer fire brigades occupied a portion of the road, which prompted the authorities to divert traffic.

A witness who was transacting inside the mall when the fire broke out recalled that she initially noticed that some people were rushing on the hallway.

“I thought there was an earthquake,” she said. She rushed outside when she noticed smoke coming out from the linen section of the department store.

She added that she did not recall hearing any fire alarm sound or the sprinklers deployed when smoke spread in the area.

An employee assigned to the supermarket section recalled that they were stunned when they saw thick smoke on the upper level of the mall.

“We were told to go out and it’s only then that we realized that the third floor was already on fire when we saw the thick black smoke coming out of the building,” she recalled.

As firefighters were putting out the fire, mall workers were lined up across the road and occasionally taking pictures and videos of the fire.

Many of them were obviously worried that it might take a few days or even weeks for some of them to resume work due to the apparent extent of damage.

One of them admitted that she is quite sure that they could report to work very soon since there will be a lot of repairs due to the damage brought by the fire.

“I’m sure it will remain closed for a few days or even weeks depending on the damage. There will be a lot of work especially in removing the burnt or damaged items inside the mall,” a mall worker assigned in the department store said.

Like most of the workers, he fears that many of them might be displaced if it would take time for the mall to resume operations, especially on the upper levels.

Another worker assigned to the supermarket section said that she is hopeful that the supermarket section will resume operations soon.

Gaisano Grand Citygate Mall opened on Oct. 19, 2018 and was the 38th mall of the company.

The mall houses restaurants, hardwares, department stores, electronic shops, supermarket, and several specialty stores.