Fire hits Iriga City public market; 109 stalls, 3 houses razed

LIGAO CITY — The public market in Iriga City in Camarines Sur province is temporarily closed after fire razed 109 business stalls and three houses on Friday, Feb. 2.

Chief Inspector Junjen Novela, Iriga City Fire marshall, said in a press conference on Saturday, Feb. 3, that the fire, which reached the fourth alarm, started around 1 a.m. and was declared out at 2:47 a.m. No casualty was reported.

Novela said they were still conducting in-depth investigation to find out the cause of the fire and the extent of damage to the properties.

The stalls that were burned were part of the wet and dry goods sections of the market that were selling fish, meat and vegetables.

Lawyer Ramon Maharlika Oaferina II, Iriga city administrator, told the Inquirer in a text message on Saturday that Mayor Rex Oliva had ordered the city social welfare and development to give assistance to affected families.

“Food and non-food items were immediately handed to stall owners and displaced families. We are also working on speedy financial aid for them,” Oaferina said.

He said the city government was also planning to temporarily relocate all the business establishments for safety purposes.