Cebu Metro-Ayala fire nearing end on Sunday — BFP

Firemen blast Metro Department Store at the Cebu Business Park with water on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018, in an effort to completely put out the blaze that started gutting the six-story building on Friday night. INQUIRER / ADOR MAYOL

CEBU CITY — The fire at Metro Department Store at the Ayala Center Cebu here is expected to be completely put out on Sunday.

Senior Supt. Samuel Tadeo, chief of the Bureau of Fire and Protection in Central Visayas, said they were blasting all the floors of the store with water on Sunday, nearly two days after fire broke out Friday evening.

“We are making sure that there’s no more fire on every level. We will do our best to completely put out the fire today,” he said Sunday.

The fire broke out at 9:44 p.m. last Friday from the stock room of the toy department located on the third floor.

Tadeo said they had yet to determine the cause of the blaze.

“We already invited the persons who could shed light on our investigation. They are expected to appear at our office tomorrow (Jan. 8),” he said.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) chief Nagiel Bañacia said they were also expecting the fire at Metro Ayala to be completely put out before sundown Sunday.

“Firefighters are now focusing on the 5th and 6th floors. Fire at the other parts of the building have already been extinguished,” he said.

Bañacia also lifted the haze alert in Cebu City as the fire and smoke at Metro Ayala died down.

“We’re just happy that we have not received any complaints about Saturday’s haze. Now, the thick smoke is gone,” he said.

A haze alert was issued Saturday morning due to the smoke from the Metro Ayala fire.
Thick smoke earlier enveloped much of the Cebu Business Park where the store and many other other businesses were located. /cbb