Fire department sends evidence to Manila arson lab

The remnants of what used to be the receiving area of Gaisano Capitol South mall will be sent to Manila for examination to verify the cause of the fire that struck down the seven-story department store since last Friday.

Cebu City Fire Marshall Aderson Comar said they still don’t know what  caused the fire that broke out inside the mall at past 12 midnight and raged for most of last Friday.

“We gathered the remnants or ashes from the receiving area where the fire originated, and we’ll send it to the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) in Manila arson laboratory for examination,” Comar said in Cebuano.

Comar declined to elaborate on whether arson was involved.

“It’s still undetermined.  We don’t know yet,” Comar said.

He said what they did know is that the fire originated from the mall’s receiving area at the ground floor.

Gaisano Capital Group liason officer Eric Labrada confirmed that fire investigators collected samples of what remained of the mall structure.

“They will also question the security guards who were present when the fire broke out,” he said.

Burned down

The security guards on duty at that time revealed to fire investigators that they saw the fire originate near the receiving area of the stock room.

Based on their initial inspection, Labrada said they think the foundation weakened due to high exposure to fire and water.

Ashes were also taken from the grocery’s receiving areas and sent to Manila for analysis.

As of past 6 p.m. yesterday, Comar told Cebu Daily News that the firefighters are still trying to put out the smoke at the mall’s sixth floor.

“Gapalong pa ta sa kayo. Naa pay ginagmay nga aso (We are still putting out  the fire. There is still a small portion of smoke),” Comar said, particularly in the warehouse area that housed the dry goods.

He described the “insides” of the mall as totally burned down except for the ground floor.

Comar said the nearby streets in Sanciangko, Leon Kilat and Colon were still closed due to the ongoing smoke clearing operations in the mall.

The Cebu City fire marshall said he and his men were unable to go home since Dec. 23.

“I spent my Christmas here in Gaisano Capital mall,” Comar said in Cebuano.

Bound to fall

For now, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama asked the Cebu Contractors Association to help the Office of the Building Officials (OBO) and the city engineering office to assess the integrity of the Gaisano Capitol South building.

“Physically there is going to be a destruction or removal of certain portions of the building because it is dangerous and it is not anymore attached to the (other parts of the main) building.  It is bound to fall anytime,” he told reporters.

The mayor said he reminded engineering and fire- fighting personnel that he wants the immediate area to be “danger free” to restore commuter and vehicular traffic flow there.

Rama said he ordered the management of Gaisano Capital South to remove all concrete rubble within the surrounding area after noticing that some damaged portions of the building fell down on the street.

Engr. Josefa Ylanan of the Office of the Building Official (OBO) said the mayor talked with the building owners after noticing that some portions of the building facing Colon and Leon Kilat Streets fell down.

“The owners hired heavy equipment to follow the mayor’s order,” said Engr. Josefa Ylanan of the Office of the City Building Official.

Rama said he was informed by Gaisano South officials that they intend to build a new structure in the area.

The Gaisanos have also agreed to his request to absorb some of their employees in their other stores in Cebu.

“I think they can absorb some employees but I know they cannot absorb all,” the mayor said.

New structure

Rama said the city’s Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP) was tasked to help employees displaced by last Friday’s fire to find new employment.

He said DMDP head Fidel Magno could provide training to these employees and help them search other job opportunities.

Labrada said the management is considering either to build a new structure in the same place or build elsewhere.

Labrada said the Gaisano Capitol South Mall has always been considered one of their most strategically-located malls due to the high average daily foot traffic.

Labrada said they will pay the benefits of their 800 casual employees.

“About 500 of them are agency-based so we’re not responsible to them. The remaining 200 employees are regular ones and will remain working for us,” he said.

Gaisano Capital Group currently has 17 stores nationwide with Surigao being the recent addition.

The group is also targeting to open three to five more outlets in Cebu and outside the province next year. Rhea Ruth V. Rosell, Edison delos Angeles, and Jhunnex Napallacan, Correspondents with Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap and Correspondent Chito Aragon