Power distributor loses P15M worth of property to fire

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — An early morning fire last Tuesday destroyed the warehouse of a power distribution firm in Manapla town, Negros Occidental, and damaged P15 million worth of transformer and other equipment, the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) said.

The hour-long fire, which broke out at around 3 a.m., hit the Victorias-Manapla-Cadiz (VMC) Rural Electric Service Cooperative (VRESCO) office, according to Fire Supt. Fred Tajeras, provincial fire marshall.

The fire originated from a meter dial testing board at the line equipment section of the warehouse, where the transformer and rewinding section, union office and motorpool were located, said Sr. Fire Officer 1 Joel Arcosa, BFP-Manapla chief.

Arcosa said the fire gutted almost 80 percent of the warehouse building, and that he and FO1 Ariel Mediodia suffered minor injuries and abrasions while putting out the fire.

An investigation into the cause of fire is now underway, including the possible negligence of some employees, which could have resulted in the fire. —(FREEMAN)