About P2.1 million in dry goods and properties went up in smoke as fire hit the public market of La Castellana in Negros Occidental early Saturday morning, the police said.

Although nobody was hurt, 13 market stalls filled with dry goods, including three government-owned stores, and the eastern portion of the town public market roof were razed by fire, Senior Inspector Placido Composa said in his report to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.

Initial police investigations show the fire, believed to have been caused by faulty electrical wirings, started at the eastern portion of the public market, at about 1 a.m. of Dec. 2.

Mayor Enrico Elumba said fire also broke out at the public market of La Castellana almost two years ago, where damage was placed at P300,000 by the Bureau of Fire and Protection.

Elumba said the new public market of La Castellana, constructed in 1996, had already been hit twice by fire.

Fire fighters of the BFP in Isabela, Binalbagan,MOises Padilla, La Castellana and even La Carlota City responded to the fire call, which was put out more than an hour after.

Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (Neg. Occ., 5th district), told Bombo Radyo, he will to allocate a portion of his Countrywide Development Fund for the re-construction of the La Castellana public market.