P30-M fire razes bed factory in Valenzuela

An estimated P30-million worth of property went up in smoke when a two-hour fire hit a bed factory Wednesday afternoon in Valenzuela City.

The Oceanic Industry Corp., maker of Salem beds, at 26 San Francisco street, Barangay Karuhatan, Valenzuela, reportedly owned by businessman Benjamin Tiu, was totally razed to the ground.

A fireman, FO2 Leopoldo Gonzales and a laborer, identified as Victor Palting, were brought to the hospital for inhaling toxic smoke, fire prober FOI Jonathan Reyes said.

"There were drums of chemicals within the building and when these were engulfed by the fire they exploded, emitting toxic smoke," Reyes said. He added that the fire started at the factory’s cutting section at about 4:38 p.m. and swiftly spread through the whole building.

Valenzuela firefighters and those from neighboring municipalities and cities put the blaze under control at about 6:25 p.m.

The fire reached Task Force Delta, and the joint efforts of a total of 16 firetrucks put it out at about 6:30 p.m.

Shirley Erquiza, who lives near the burned factory, said that she called up the Valenzuela Fire Station informing them of the on-going conflagration but the firemen’s response was delayed.

"The firefighters came to the area more than 30 minutes after I informed them. I called up again but the line was already busy," Erquiza said.

She said if not for a firewall that surrounded the building, the fire could have spread to adjacent structures.

As of press time yesterday, Valenzuela City arson investigators were still trying to determine the cause of the fire.