Fire razes huge portion of San Fernando City, La Union public market

BAGUIO CITY — A thorough probe was launched into what caused the fire that turned the wet section of the San Fernando City, La Union public market into ashes early Thursday.

The fire started at past 1 a.m. and firemen from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) San Fernando City only declared “fire-out” at 6:52 a.m.

No one was injured while the total worth of damages is still being determined, the San Fernando City, La Union public information office said.

The San Fernando City government said that it is readying its financial aid while also coordinating with other government agencies for additional assistance for the owners of the stalls razed by the fire.

The city government said that affected stall owners will undergo psychosocial debriefing. It added that a recovery plan is being crafted in consultation with affected stall owners.

Affected stall owners were relocated to the covered courts of Barangay Ilocanos Sur and Norte, while the market office operations was temporarily held at the Barangay Hall of Barangay Ilocanos Sur.

The City Government of San Fernando has sought the declaration of the City Council of a “State of Calamity” to allow access to the city’s calamity fund.

The Provincial Government of La Union, on the other hand, called for in-kind or monetary donations for the fire victims.