MANILA, Philippines—About P3 million worth of property was destroyed in a pre-dawn fire that hit a gasoline station and several stores in Lucena City Monday, police said Tuesday.
Initial investigation disclosed that sparks from an electric pump near a gasoline tank at the station in Barangay (village) Mayao Parada, Lucena City, triggered the fire.
The gas station helper, Arnando Jamito, switched on the defective pump around 5 a.m., Senior Police Officer 1 Alvin Evangelista said.
Evangelista said flames engulfed the gasoline station owned by Carlito Gabia Cantos, his agricultural supply store and a computer shop located nearby.
The fire was put out at 6:55 a.m., Evangelista said.
He said Jamito sustained minor burns and was rushed to Quezon Medical Center. Jamie Marie Elona