A fishing boat undergoing repair at a shipyard in Navotas City Fish Port Complex (FPC) incurred more damages after a fire, reportedly caused by welding sparks, gutted it yesterday morning.
The M/V Buena Suerte, owned by the BSG Fishing Co. of businessman Lope Jimenez, was having repair at Pier 3 of the FPC when the fire broke out at its stock room at around 10:55 a.m.
Senior Fire Officer 1 Valerio Binayug, arson investigator of the Navotas City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), said falling sparks from a welding rod landed on a styrofoam inside the vessel’s stock room starting the conflagration.
Firemen from at least 12 firetrucks had difficulty battling the blaze, as they were not able to penetrate the lower deck of the ship where the stock room was located because of acrid and thick black smoke.
Using an acetylene torch, the firefighters, under the supervision of Navotas City fire marshal Senior Inspector Edgardo Antonio, punched a hole on the side of the boat to break through the fire scene.
Antonio declared the blaze, which was confined within the stock room, under control at 12:40 p.m. It was declared out at around 1:10 p.m.
Fire Officer 2 Elmer Catura said nobody was hurt during the incident but the fishing vessel incurred more than P50,000 in damages.