Alabang mall closed after boutique catches fire

THICK smoke blanketed a boutique selling a popular clothing line at a mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, as a fire broke out on Monday morning, sending worried shoppers out of the establishment.

Smoke wafted out of the Bench shop on the second floor of Festival Mall before noon, according to Muntinlupa fire marshal Chief Insp. Roderick Aguto.

“The fire was quickly contained,” the official said over the phone, adding that the automated firefighting system of the mall helped prevent the blaze from spreading.

Aguto refused to speculate about the cause of the fire because it was still under investigation, although he said he was expecting a report on the incident soon.

Damage caused by the fire was estimated at P500,000, but the figure can change once the investigation wraps up.

The mall was temporarily closed to the public, but reopened at 4 p.m., Aguto said.