Fire hits cigarette factory in Mandaluyong; nobody hurt

A fire of unknown origin razed the production area of a cigarette factory in Mandaluyong City yesterday, destroying property estimated at P1.5 billion.

Nobody was injured in the fire that hit Sterling Tobacco Corporation at 305-307 corner J. Rizal and Castañeda Streets in Barangay Namaya, arson prober SPO3 Ireneo Savillejo said.

Sterling Tobacco is the manufacturer of menthol cigarettes such as Miller, Kent, Bowling Green, Bowling Gold, Casino and Rave which are sold in the provinces.

An Indonesian trader, Futura Sampura, owned the company.

Prior to the fire, a brownout occurred at the production section of the cigarette factory at about 1:16 a.m. yesterday. However, the adjacent building housing the administration, warehouse and processing departments of the company had electricity.

When confused security guards rushed to the powerhouse to check what caused the brownout, they saw thick smoke billowing from the window of the production section.

The production section housed large and expensive machines used in the manufacture of cigarettes, said Manolito Dagatan, the firm’s general manager.

Fireman from Mandaluyong City and neighboring towns and cities had to destroy the padlocked main door of the building before they could enter and put out the fire.

The fire was put under control at 5:30 a.m. – Non Alquitran