Fire lays bare Christmas tree in Quezon

The Quezon provincial government’s 56-foot tall Christmas tree festooned with coconut husks and multicolored lights here at Perez Park caught fire on Tuesday, said a local official.

Only the frames made of coconut lumber were left of the tree that was first opened to the public last Monday to coincide with the start of the three-day Christmas bazaar and trade fair in the park, said Rowell Radovan, chief of the province’s general services office.

Heavy rains

Witnesses said the five-minute fire occurred past 5 p.m. just as early evening park visitors were starting to arrive at the provincial capitol grounds to take photos of the giant lighted tree.

Heavy rains had by then soaked the tree’s wiring which could have caused the lights to spark and start a fire when these were switched on.

No one was hurt in the fire. Radovan said the tree, with a nativity scene on its base, was a “labor of love” by local officials, employees and coconut farmers.