A fire gutted two heritage buildings in Chinatown along Iznart Street, Barangay Magsaysay, Iloilo City.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection in Iloilo City, the fire struck at around 11 p.m. on March 15, 2024. It was raised to second alarm at 11:46 p.m., third alarm at 12:55 a.m. of March 16, 2024; and on to fourth alarm at 2:20 a.m.

The fire was put under control by 5:42 a.m., while a fire-out was declared at past 8 a.m.

Damage is estimated to be worth around P8 million, according to initial fire investigation.

Short circuit may have caused the fire, investigators from the Iloilo City Fire Station added, who found what appeared to be copper wires in the destroyed structures. The pieces of copper wire were brought to the fire laboratory for examination and confirmation. 

Three establishments that reportedly rented spaces in the buildings were destroyed. It took nine hours to put the fire out because of the number of combustible stocks stored in the said establishments.