Chief Inspector Oscar Villegas, Quezon City fire marshall, said two employees of Eunilaine Foodmart, who were asleep in their quarters when the fire started at past 4 a.m, escaped unhurt.
As the fire raged, a series of explosions believed triggered by cans of paint and other flammable materials were heard from inside the store as firefighters battled the blaze.
The fire rapidly spread through the supermarket and destroyed its warehouse as well as a Goldilocks bakeshop branch situated near the store entrance. Firemen had the fire under control at about 7 a.m.
Arson investigators were still investigating the cause of the blaze. The store’s security guards have been invited for questioning.
It was the second fire to hit Quezon City in less than a week. A big fire also destroyed a grocery warehouse in Barangay Baesa the other night.
"We are intensifying our inspection of supermarkets to insure the safety of the public," Villegas told The STAR. — Perseus Echeminada