Fire hits National Archives office; damage estimated to reach P800K

A fire damaged an office of the National Archives on UN Avenue in Manila early Sunday.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region (BFP-NCR), the fire started at 1:04 a.m. at the chief administrative office located on the sixth floor of the PPL Building, Luisito Santos reported on Dobol B TV.

The fire reached the second alarm before it was put out at 3:13 a.m. by the firefighters, who used an aerial ladder platform to carry them up to the fire.

No one was reported hurt in the blaze.

According to a 24 Oras report by Mai Bermudez, the fire spread to the room next to the administrative office before it was put out. 

The archival collections were not damaged, but it has not yet been determined whether any historical documents were otherwise affected.

Meanwhile, property damage—including computers and tables—was estimated to reach P800,000.

Under the guidelines on national inventory of records, the National Archives of the Philippines covers all public records, created, received and maintained in all branches of the government, whether national or local, constitutional offices, government owned controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state/local universities and colleges, Philippine embassies, consulates and other Philippine offices abroad. It also covers private archival collections. — with Ma. Angelica Garcia/KG/BM, GMA News