A late-night fire at the satellite office of the Alfonso Castañeda local government unit in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, has forced students and staff to rush outside as flames spread through the second floor evening on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

Authorities said the blaze started from an overloaded electrical outlet inside one of the rooms of the building located in Barangay Magsaysay.

SFO2 Nestor Teneza, deputy chief of the Municipal Fire Marshal, said the fire intensified quickly because of the room’s materials.

“Sa dami nila doon, nag-overload ‘yung saksakan tapos may kurtina katabi ng bedding, ‘yung mga foam. Nandoon pa rin ‘yung nasunog na cellphone kanina at charger niya at mga wire kaya madaling umakyat sa bobeda [sa kisame]. 20 years na raw ‘yung building kaya madaling natupok ng apoy ‘yung ceiling kasi plywood kaya kumalat sa ibang kwarto,” he said.

The two-story office housed student-athletes participating in the Provincial Athletic Meet temporarily. No one was hurt in the incident.

According to Teneza, only the upper floor sustained damage.

“Anim na kuwarto ‘yung nasunog. Tsaka sa taas lang po ‘yung nasunog; sa baba, wala namang damage sa baba, sa taas lang,” he added.

Firefighters spent almost an hour putting the flames out, which reached first alarm status.

Teneza reminded the public to be cautious with electrical use, especially in shared or temporary accommodations.

“Paki-double check bago umalis sa kuwarto o sa bahay. Pakitanggal ang nakasaksak kasi umalis ‘yung naka-in-house doon na marami ang nakasaksak sa kuwarto nila. Karamihan ngayon sa pinamumulan ng sunog sa electrical lalo na may mga spotlight na kinakabit na substandard,” he said.

Police and disaster response personnel assisted the Bureau of Fire Protection at the site and helped maintain order in the area.

The local government of Alfonso Castañeda has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident.