Fire razes banana chips factory in Kidapawan

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines -- More than 20 workers were left jobless by a fire  that destroyed a banana chips factory in Kidapawan City before dawn Wednesday.

Fire probers suspect that a “chimney malfunction” could have caused the fire that razed the factory, owned by businessman Reynaldo Feria.

Feria said  that the fire also destroyed some P3-million worth of processed banana chips to be hauled to Davao City this coming weekend.

Kidapawan City’s fire marshal, Darwin Custodio, told reporters it took them more than an hour to douse off the fire because the cooked banana chips and the cooking oil kept in the building were flammable.

The fire also razed a nearby shack,  where workers rest during breaks.

Arson probers said the fire started near the factory’s chimney, where workers had stockpiled some two tons of firewood for cooking banana chips.

Feria said he is planning to  transfer  his displaced workers to their family’s banana chips processing establishment in Davao City.