Fire destroys government offices in Camarines Norte town

San Lorenzo Ruiz town is indicated by red marker. (Image from Google Maps)

LEGAZPI CITY — A fire burned at least five government building in San Lorenzo Ruiz town in Camarines Norte province Saturday afternoon.

The blaze, which started around 3:40 p.m., burned the municipal building, municipal trial court, the office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the old municipal police station, and the Commission on Elections office at the San Lorenzo Ruiz town center.

Senior Insp. Johnny Ray Isic, chief of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Municipal Police Station, said the blaze was already put under control at around 5:50 p.m. But the fire department has not declared fire out as of 6 p.m.

He said that the Bureau of Fire was still unable to determine the origin of the blaze but was looking into the on-going construction on a nearby daycare center where construction workers were allegedly welding. Construction workers, however, denied the allegation.

No one was hurt in the incident.

“We are still unable to determine the cost of damage because it’s a Saturday, and no one is here to check their offices,” Isic said.

He said the fire quickly spread but they were able to save as many office equipment and files as possible.

He also said that they were able to save firearms and computers that they transferred to the new police station. “Most of the things we were not able to save were personal belongings.”

The new police station, which is just beside the burned old municipal police station, was also damaged. –Rey Anthony Ostria /atm