Fire razes public market in Ilagan City

Firefighters extinguish the blaze that razed six stalls at the public market in the City of Ilagan on Wednesday, June 22. (Photo by Villamor Visaya Jr.)

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela — An hour-long fire gutted six stalls at the city public market in Baligatan village here on Wednesday (June 22) afternoon, authorities said.

Initial reports said an electric fan that overheated could have caused the fire, which began at around 2 p.m. The damage was pegged at P2 million.

But Fire Chief Inspector Manuel Luis Gonzales Jr., Ilagan City fire marshal, said the incident was still being investigated.

Market vendor Margie Lagat, 51, said responding firefighters managed to put out the fire an hour later.

READ: Public market in Ilagan City under lockdown due to COVID-19 infection