Manila Standard Today, March 24, 2007
Arson investigators estimated at least P2 million worth of damage in an early morning blaze yesterday, gutting a two-story commercial building in San Juan.
The fire struck at the corner of M.A Reyes and Granet Streets in Barangay Little Baguio, the 190th to occur this year in Metro Manila alone, according to authorities.
Fire Insp. Chandler Arcadio said the breakout started 12:58 a.m. at Unit 281-D on the second floor of the Al Greenhills Trading building.
He said the building was owned and managed by a certain Loida Lim.
“The first floor of the building was commercial with rice stocks and other merchandise.”
Also burned was a learning center, bakery, sari-sari store and a computer shop.
Witnesses said they saw a spark inside a room on the second level.
Arcadio said despite a prompt response by his department, the fire reached Task Force Bravo until it was controlled at 2:29 a.m. but not without hushed criticisms among residents and victims of the razed establishments.
“The firefighters seemed to be gazing at the blaze as it spread, claiming they lacked water supply. But why did they come in the first place without their tanks full? They should be ready at all times,” said a respondent homeowner, who declined to be identified.
“It should have reached only the fourth alarm but the structure was made of wood which were quite old, hence the fire quickly spread,” said Arcadio, over apprehensions that his firefighters failed to do their best.
Probers found old electrical wires had exposed surfaces, indicating the need for replacements, and the likelihood of short-circuits during a voltage surge.
Webmaster's note: According to fellow volunteers, one of the first volunteer brigades on scene advised on radio that no further assistance was needed (aka "10-12") while the fire was still on 2nd Alarm. Now we really wonder how it went up 5 alarm levels to TF Bravo. Maybe someone needs more training in fire sizeup, or better yet, shut up.
