Face-to-face classes at a public elementary school in General Santos City were suspended after a fire razed at least six classrooms of an old building on Sunday, November 9, 2025.

The fire broke out at Conel Central Elementary School in Barangay Conel at past 3 p.m.

Residents nearby had difficulty helping put out the fire because the school gate was locked.

“Kung naay gate, pwede pa namun makuanan tu pero hindi na makuanan kay taas na kalayo,” a resident, Glen Alerta, said.

Firefighters extinguished the fire within 15 minutes.

The fire damaged school documents, chairs, and other learning materials.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-GenSan, the damage was estimated at around P2 million.

No one was reported hurt in the incident.

Based on investigation, the fire may have started in the ceiling of Room 3, which was the most heavily damaged and collapsed section of the building.

Authorities suspect that an electrical problem caused the fire.

“Isa pud sa mga nakuhang information from the scene, naga fluctuate na daw ang ilang kuryente. Isa na siya sa angle nga atuang gina-consider,” BFP-GenSan Spokesperson, SFO1 Lester John Muñez, said.

Because of the fire, the school has implemented alternative delivery modes to ensure the continuation of classes while the investigation continues.