Fire hits Muntinlupa building

MANILA, Philippines - A fire destroyed the top floor of the five-story Shell Canvas building in Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City yesterday.

The fire started at around 10:30 a.m. in the building’s fifth floor, where carpets are stored, according to Chief Inspector Roderick Aguto. 

“We are looking into the welding done in the area as a possible cause of the fire,” he said.

The Shell Canvas building is on East Service Road, beside the Carmina and Bunyi compounds, two slum areas razed by a fire in May 2010.

The fire in the furniture shop only reached first alarm, which usually needed about three water trucks. Six trucks were sent to the site, however, “because carpets were inside,” said Fire Officer 3 Jerric Hernandez, radio operator of Fire District 3 headquarters.

A report from radio station dzBB said firefighters had to use fire ladders just to reach the top floor. 

No one was hurt in the fire, which was placed under control at 3:15 p.m. A fire out has yet to be declared as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

Traffic was snarled after the two-way road was temporarily closed to the public to allow firetrucks to enter the site.