Fire hits oil mill in Laguna

A firefighter tries to extinguish the blaze on Monday, Jan. 15, that engulfs Francis and Son Oil Mill at Barangay San Benito in Alaminos, Laguna.(Photo courtesy of San Pablo City Fire Station)

LUCENA CITY — An industrial fire broke out at an oil mill in Alaminos town, Laguna province early Sunday, Jan. 14, and is still raging as of noon Monday.

Fire Officer 2 Mary Cris Mayantang said the blaze started at 2:20 a.m. on Sunday after a security guard at Francis and Son Oil Mill located in Barangay San Benito heard a loud explosion and saw one of the oil machines on fire.

“The fire is still ongoing. The third alarm is still up,” Mayantang said in a phone interview at 12:20 p.m. Monday.

She said local firemen, assisted by firefighters from neighboring localities and volunteers, had been struggling to suppress the fire due to the combustibility of oil and stocks of copra, dried coconut meat used in oil production.

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Mayantang said the fire was confined to one of the structures inside the compound. The enclosed structure covers more than 2,000 square meters.

The firemen and volunteers had to haul the other stocks of copra to safer areas to spare them from being burned.

“So far, no casualties or serious injuries have been reported,” Mayantang said. INQ