COTABATO CITY, (PNA)–ARSON INVESTIGATORS ARE ZEROING ON CELLPHONE CHARGER LEFT UNATTENDED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, AN OVERHEAT ELECTRIC FAN OR OTHER ELECTRIC APPLIANCES AS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE THAT RAZED ABOUT 50 STALLS IN THE CITY’S BARTER TRADE CENTER, FIRE OFFICIALS SAID.
SUPT. ADAM GUIAMAD, COTABATO CITY FIRE CHIEF, SAID THE FIRE STARTED IN ONE OF THE STALLS AT ABOUT 3:30 P.M. SATURDAY AND QUICKLY SPREAD TO OTHER STALLS.
THE TRADE CENTER SELLS GARMENTS AND PLASTIC ITEMS AND HEAVILY CROWDED MAKING IT VULNERABLE TO FIRE.
“WE ARE STILL DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE CONFLAGRATION,” GUIAMAD SAID, ADDING THAT OCCUPANTS OF THE AREA KNOWN AS BARTER TRADE CENTER OF COTABATO HAVE BEEN TOLD MANY TIMES THAT OWNERS SHOULD NOT MAKE THE STALLS AS THEIR HOMES.
“MANY STALL OWNERS COOK AND EVEN CONVERT THEIR STALLS INTO THEIR HOMES WHICH IS NOT ALLOWED,” GUIAMAD ADDED.
NOBODY WAS HURT IN THE INCIDENT BUT ARSON INVESTIGATORS PLACED THE DAMAGES TO ABOUT A MILLION.
GUIAMAD SAID THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION WILL RECOMMEND TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT WHAT TO DO TO PREVENT SIMILAR INCIDENT IN THE FUTURE.