3-hour fire guts Hagonoy public market

HAGONOY, Bulacan, Philippines – A three-hour fire gutted five houses and the public market in this coastal town Wednesday night.

Three persons, including two firemen, were injured in the blaze, which left an estimated damage of P19 million, although other sources said losses could reach more than P50 million.

Water pumps mounted on fishing boats prevented the flames from spreading to at least six other houses and the municipal slaughterhouse beside the public market.

Fire Superintendent Abasalom Zipagan, the provincial fire marshal, said the fire started at around 7:33 p.m. Wednesday and was put out at 10:30 p.m. 

Citing a witness’ account, Zipagan said vendors saw smoke billowing from a bread and candy store beside a feed supply stall at the northern part of the public market.

Zipagan said they were still probing the cause of the fire.

Gov. Willy Alvarado, who rushed to the fire scene along with Hagonoy Mayor Angel Cruz and provincial administrator Jim Valerio, recalled that a fire also gutted the other side of the public market in 1986 when he was the acting mayor. – With Ric Sapnu