Two separate fire incidents broke out in Ilocos Norte and Baguio on the same day.
In Ilocos Norte, five classrooms at San Antonio Elementary School in Sarrat were destroyed in a fire that struck around 3 a.m. on July 2.
The items that got burned include books, paper materials, computer sets, and other school equipment.
Authorities estimate the damage at over P1.4 million.
The fire reached the second alarm and took more than an hour to put out.
“From this moment po, ongoing pa rin ang aming investigation sa possible causes ng sunog. As of now, hindi pa pwedeng papasukin ‘yung mga bata. Hinihintay ma-clear pa ‘yung lugar. As of now, wala pa pong klase ‘yung from Grade 4 to 6,” SFO1 Mark Bryan Lagutan, BFP-Sarrat operations chief, said.
In Baguio City, a bungalow caught fire around 11:38 a.m. on the same day in Camp 7, Youngland.
Neighbors first reported the fire and tried to extinguish the flames, but it still took nearly an hour for firefighters to put it out.
No one was home during the incident.
“Sabi naman nung matanda, before umalis ng bahay, sinigurado na nakapatay lahat ng ilaw, mga appliances na hindi nagagamit. So ‘yun pa rin ang titingnan namin sa follow-up investigation,” FO2 Clint Dominick Labon, BFP-Baguio fire arson investigator, said.
Fire officials continue to remind the public to practice fire safety:
- Always extinguish open flames or coals after cooking
- Avoid leaving light materials near hot surfaces
- Keep water or sand nearby as precaution
