Fire hits elementary school in Caloocan City

A fire of still unknown origin hit on early Saturday morning two buildings of an elementary school in Caloocan City North that did not have electricity since last week.

Pangarap Elementary School’s industrial arts building was gutted by the fire that broke out at around 2 a.m., fire investigator FO3 Alwin Colianan said.

Flames spread and partially damaged the adjacent home economics building of the school on Narra Avenue, Pangarap Village, in Barangay 182, Colianan said.

No one was injured but the investigator estimated the damage at P300,000 because the 50-square meter industrial arts building contained armchairs, books and other school materials.

“The combustibility of the materials contributed to the rapidity and progress of the fire,” Colianan said.

The fire that lasted for more than two hours flattened the structure, he said. It was declared under control at 3:55 a.m. and put out at 4:20 a.m.

The building was made of light materials. Only one-third of the structure was concrete, he added.

Colianan said they were still figuring out the cause of the fire. But it may not have been caused by electrical problems because the school did not have electricity since May 29.

The security guard on duty said he heard a motorcycle passed by the area before the fire started.

“So far these are just allegations. He did not see someone on motorcycle. He just heard it,” Colianan said. RC