‘Kwitis’ blamed for Christmas Day fire in Abra

A kwitis, or rocket, is being blamed for a fire that razed a hardware store in Bangued town in Abra province before dawn on Christmas Day.

 

Some P10 million in property was destroyed in the fire at Barangay Ubbog in Bangued, GMA Ilocos' Brigette Mayor reported on GMA News TV's "Balita Pilipinas Ngayon."


 

The fire started at 1 a.m. and reached the fourth alarm before it was eventually put out two hours later.

 

"Malaki na yung apoy nung nakita ko. kaya tumakbo na lang kami. Katok na lang ang pinto ng mga anak ko," said owner Lourdes Reyes. The fire spread to the Reyeses' house, which was adjacent to the warehouse.

 

Investigators believe a kwitis may have fallen into the warehouse and landed on plastic pipes, triggering the fire.

 

"Nanggaling sa taas yung apoy na bumaba," said SFO3 Romualdo Mailed, the local fire marshal. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News