Fire hits Misamis Oriental provincial health office

A fire broke out at the Misamis Provincial Health Office at the provincial capitol compound in Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao on Wednesday night, authorities said.

In a Facebook post, Misamis Oriental Public Information Office said the fire hit the health office and its adjacent buildings.

"The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is currently using all of its available assets to put down the fire to prevent it from spreading to other buildings within the Provincial Capitol Compound," the Facebook post also stated.

The Cagayan De Oro Fire District said in a phone interview with GMA News Online that firefighters received a call about the blaze at 6:38 p.m. After 20 minutes, the fire reached until the fourth alarm. There were at least 19 fire trucks that responded to the emergency.

It was declared under control at 8:43 p.m. and was fully extinguished at 8:54 p.m., the fire department added.

In an updated report from the provincial fire department, the incident resulted in more or less P1.4 million worth of damages but investigators are still verifying if there are casualties.

The two-storey health office was "partially damaged" from the two-hour blaze. 

Provincial IATF Chief Dr. Jerie Calingasan also assured that the people can still avail of the services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. -- BAP, GMA News