MANILA, Philippines – The firefighter who suffocated while helping put out the fire that razed a newly-renovated municipal hall in Calasiao town in Pangasinan remains in a comatose at a local hospital where he was rushed after collapsing.

GMA Dagupan’s Joyce Sagui reported over dzBB that SFO3 Jose Cariño has not gained consciousness since he was taken to a local hospital, shortly after responding to the fire incident which started at 2 a.m.

Aside from burning Calasiao’s municipal hall, the fire - which lasted for five hours - also damaged an adjacent chapel Señor Tesoro Shrine which is a popular tourist spot in the province.

Initial investigations show that the blaze was caused by faulty-wiring.

The fire also caused panic among at least 83 inmates detained near the town hall. Police managed to calm them and bring them to another nearby detention facility, an earlier radio report said. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV