Fire hits Centcom's Explosive Ordnance Division quarters

CEBU, Philippines - A fire has destroyed two sleeping quarters and a canteen of the Explosive Ordnance Division at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command last Sunday evening.

Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus, Centcom spokesperson, said no bomb disposal equipment was damaged but a mini-cruiser jeep parked near the quarters also caught fire. No one from the EOD team was hurt in the fire that started at 10:56 p.m.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Nilo Daculan, fire investigator, said the fire was controlled immediately by the responding firemen from the Apas sub-station. It was declared fire out at 11:26 p.m.

The fire allegedly started on the ceiling which may have been caused by an overheated fan. There were loud explosions heard by witnesses during the fire but investigators could not determine yet whether it has something to do with the origin of the fire.

“Akong personnel naay gidala nga wire conductor nga lanay i-follow up pa sad namo ang wirings (my personnel has brought a melted wire conductor but we still have to follow up on the wirings) ,” Daculan told The FREEMAN.

Tampus admitted there are vintage bombs stored in the quarters which could have caused the explosions. He however said that they are not yet sure of it because they have yet to conduct an inventory of the bombs.

“Naay stocks nga for disposal vintage bombs but so far we cannot determine if naay naapil ug buto,” Tampus said.

Tampus said they are also conducting a parallel investigation to determine what caused the fire.

The city fire department has pegged the damage at P75,000.  (FREEMAN)