‘Cigarette butt caused NAIA fire’

MANILA, Philippines — The fire that destroyed 19 cars at the open parking lot of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 last month was caused by a lit cigarette butt that was disposed of incorrectly, according to a report by the Bureau of Fire Protection.

BFP arson investigation chief Fire Supt. Bayani Zambrano said probers gathered cigarette butts in the area where the fire started and there was “no other ignition source except for the cigarette butts. There’s no electricity source in the area,” GMA News reported.

The BFP said the flames resulting from the lit cigarette butt burned the fuel hose of a black sport utility vehicle, as it ruled the fire as an accident.

Probers said the fire spread quickly due to the high temperature, strong winds and dried grass in the parking area.

Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eric Ines said the concessionaire of the parking lot, Philippine Skylander Inc., removed the dried grass, poured gravel onto the area, built two guard houses equipped with fire extinguishers and set up two closed-circuit television cameras after the BFP concluded its investigation.

Ines said he has banned smoking in the parking lot and ordered more frequent patrols of the area.