Fire hits gymnasium at US Embassy

A 20-minute fire hit the Marines gymnasium inside the US Embassy compound along Roxas Boulevard in Ermita, Manila at past noon yesterday.

Arson probers, however, could not determine the exact location of the fire after they were disallowed by the guards to conduct an investigation inside the highly secured compound.

Reports from the District Tactical Operations Center of the Manila Police District showed the fire started at about 1:35 p.m.

Arson investigator SFO1 Wilson Tana said no one was hurt in the fire, which reached the first alarm. Only three firetrucks were allowed inside the embassy compound.

Even Manila Fire District chief Superintendent Pablito Cordeta had to argue with the embassy guards to allow him to get inside the compound. Media people were also barred entry.

Tana said his fire incident report has only two entries: the time the fire started and the time it was put out. The fire was put out at 1:53 p.m.

The US Embassy, which has put in place stricter security measures against terror threats, made sure the compound was secured even as fire razed one of its buildings.

Press Attache Matthew Lussenhop confirmed that a small fire hit one of the buildings in the embassy.

"There was a small fire at the embassy earlier today, but the fire was put out with the help of the fire department and our own guards. It was one of the buildings in the compound. No one was hurt," Lussenhop said.

He added that the embassy will be open for business on Monday.

Asked about report that there were firemen who could not enter the embassy, Lussenhop said the embassy appreciates the help of all the fire stations.

"We appreciate the help but I don’t know the circumstance," he said. – Nestor Etolle, Pia Lee Brago