Fires gut ceramics factory, chapel

MANILA, Philippines – A ceramics factory and a chapel were gutted down in two separate incidents early yesterday in Caloocan City.

Chief Inspector Roel Jeremy Diaz, city fire marshal, said a fire broke out at the Cardinal Ceramics Manufacturing Inc. on St. Joseph Avenue in Tala at around 12:54 a.m.

Investigators said a short-circuit started the fire in the ceiling between the glazing and gloss-firing sections in the production area of the building.

Diaz initially set the damage at P1 million.

Arson investigator SFO4 Randy Resurreccion said company officials told him the ceramics factory has been non-operational since January this year and only maintains a skeletal force at the site.

The fire was put out at past 3 a.m.

Diaz said the Chapel of the Blessed in Christ on Bautista street in Maligaya Park Subdivision in Camarin burned down at around 4:40 a.m. The fire was traced to an overheated wall fan apparently left on overnight.

SFO2 Zoilo Crisostomo, investigator, placed damage at P25,000.

No one was reported killed or injured in both fires. – Jerry Botial