Predawn fire hits Baguio public market

MANILA, Philippines - A two-and-a-half-hour fire of still undetermined origin hit the Baguio Public Market before dawn Monday, destroying goods and merchandise stored there. SFO4 Jesus Yango, acting Baguio fire chief, said no one was initially reported injured in the fire, which he described as a “conflagration" as of 4:30 a.m. “Wala pa tayong nahahanap na investigators na lead, sa ngayon nag-aano pa rin ng possible witnesses natin [We are still figuring out what caused the fire. We are still trying to get witnesses to interview]," Yango said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said the fire started 2:46 a.m. and was placed under control way past 5 a.m. A separate report on dwIZ radio said firefighters had a hard time getting to the site, adding the buildings hit by the fire were made of light materials. The fire quickly razed the two buildings at the market’s vegetable section, which was originally built in the 1950s. Monday’s predawn fire came a day after the Panagbenga flower festival, where several tourists went to the city to watch the festivities and buy goods from the market. Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. went to the market area early Monday morning to see the extent of the damage. - GMANews.TV