A fire of still unknown origin guts down three business establishments in Lucena City late Wednesday evening. DELFIN T. MALLARI JR./Inquirer Southern Luzon
LUCENA CITY, Philippines – A fire of still unknown origin burned down three business establishments here late Wednesday evening, police said.
Supt. Allen Rae Co, Lucena police chief, said the blaze started at around 9 p.m. and razed down “Pretty 99”, a popular female fashion shop; a travel and tour office; and a pawnshop – all occupants of an old building located at the corner of Gomez and Merchan streets in the central part of the city.
It was learned that the second floor of the building was also being rented as a residential house.
Police said no one was reported injured during the blaze.
As local firemen arrived at the fire scene followed by firefighters from neighboring towns, police immediately cordoned off the area to prevent looting.
Throngs of kibitzers, some of them holding cellphone cameras and taking video footage of the fire, were seen milling around the area.
At around 10:15 p.m., the firemen have successfully controlled the blaze from spreading to the adjacent footwear store and rows of nearby residential houses.
Local fire officials declined to be interviewed as they were still conducting investigation on the cause of the fire.
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