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Monday, March 07, 2005
Fire razes trading firm in San Fernando
By Chris Navarro
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A six-hour fire gutted dozens of wooden posts and caused chemical explosions at the LNE Trading Company in Barangay Dela Paz Norte in San Fernando City Sunday morning.
Superintendent Maria Luisa Hadjula, provincial fire marshal, said she is still verifying reports the fire was caused by a child.
"We have received reports that a child was playing near the grassy area of the trading company, where wooden posts treated with chemicals were placed. There were drums of gasoline and other flammable materials also stored there," she said.
Hadjula said 16 fire trucks from different municipalities and cities, including three from the Clark Development Corporation, 600th Air Base Wing, and Dee Hwa Liong, assisted in putting out the blaze.
The fire started around 9 a.m. and was put under control at 4 p.m.
The provincial fire marshal said no casualty or injury was reported during the fire, adding that the quick response of the firefighters prevented the spread of the blaze to nearby residential areas.
Hadjula advised the public to observe Fire Prevention Month by immediately reporting all fire incidents and taking precautionary measures to prevent fires as she said hot weather could be one of their causes.
Reporters covering the fire incident noted that the blaze produced huge black smoke rising to as high as 100 feet. It could be seen as far as Angeles City. Loud explosions were also heard during the blaze.
Investigators said the explosions occurred when the blaze reached the drums of chemicals and gasoline.
Councilor Bernie Castro assisted in securing the belongings of his constituents and instructed those living near the trading company to leave immediately in the event the fire would reach their homes.
Barangay Dela Paz Norte chairman Narciso Jimenez said the last time a fire like this transpired here was in 1983 and it took the firefighters a few days to put the blaze under control.
(March 7, 2005 issue)
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