KORONADAL CITY – An unattended lighted candle reportedly triggered a fire on the second floor of the Social Security System (SSS) building here past midnight Saturday, destroying an estimated P700,000 worth of government property.
In a report, the Bureau of Fire and Protection here said the blaze destroyed all of the agency’s properties, including the belongings of SSS manager Jose Catoto that he kept inside his room.
Investigation showed that a power outage occurred past midnight, waking up Catoto, who was sleeping in his room at the second floor.
Catoto went outside the building to get some fresh air, but minutes later, the security guard saw thick smoke billowing from the second floor.
Catoto and the guard tried to prevent the fire from spreading but they failed, prompting them to call the city’s fire station.
Fire investigators suspect that a lighted candle in Catoto’s room could have caused the fire. – Ramil Bajo