Fire guts Napolcom-7's roofdeck

CEBU, Philippines - At least P500,000 worth of properties went up in smoke yesterday when a fire hit the fourth floor of the office of National Police Commission (Napolcom-7) along N. Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City.

Napolcom regional director Homer Cabaral said that an unattended cooking could be the cause of the fire.

The fourth floor, he said, is used as stock room of old files, kitchen and shading machines for Napolcom examinations. The area is also used for their flag raising ceremony.

 “Naa’y magluto diha unya uling-uling ang gigamit,” said Cabaral.

The fire had caused the damage of the shading machines.

However, Cabaral said only the old and unusable files went into blaze.

Supt. Ismael Codilla, Cebu City Fire marshal, said that the fire broke out 4:49 p.m. and was place under control 17 minutes after.

Codilla said that among the most possible angles that they are looking into are unattended cooking and electrical misuse.

But Cabaral quickly downplayed electrical misuse.

During incident, the right lane going to South was closed to traffic. Some vehicles south detoured to Katipunan, Labangon.

Cabaral said they were having a meeting at the second floor in preparation for the election when they smelled smoke that prompted them to verify. — THE FREEMAN