Fire hits chemical stockroom

CEBU – The stockroom of Anaco Chemicals along Rizal Ext., barangay San Nicolas, Cebu City caught fire and went up in flames around 5 a.m. yesterday.

While nobody was reported hurt in the incident, police estimated the damage to property to be around P.8 million.

The owner of Anaco Chemicals was identified as Jose Uy, a resident of sitio Banawa, barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

Supt. Esmael Codilla, the city fire marshal, said after receiving the call for help, they immediately raised the fire to the general alarm as they were about to deal with a lot of flammable chemicals, including varnish and thinner. 

The fire was controlled by firefighters half an hour after they arrived at the scene. They had to use Arsulite Foam which is used to put out fires caused or being fed by chemicals.

“Kaning Arsulite Foam mao ni ang pinaka-expensive nga chemical nga mao ang gamiton namo kung chemicals ang hinungdan sa sunog,” Codilla said.

There were no reports of anyone getting hurt in the incident, even nearby houses were spared because of the stockroom’s firewall.

Investigator suspect the fire was somehow caused by a chemical reaction of the stockroom’s contents.

Residents near Anaco Chemicals told the media that they already petitioned the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to order the transfer of the stockroom sensing the danger they were in.

However, nothing happened to their request. — Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/BRP (THE FREEMAN)