Soldier hurt in fire at PNP regional HQ in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY — An Army official suffered second degree burns in a fire that hit the Western Visayas police headquarters in Iloilo City early Wednesday.

Captain Noel Frias of the 2nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) detachment of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division had burns on 60 percent of his body in the more than three-hour fire at Camp Martin Delgado, according to Senior Fire Officer 1 Rodel Balindua, chief of the arson section of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Iloilo City.

The fire which broke out around 2:55 a.m. at the EOD office was put under control at 4:30 a.m. and ended at 6:15 a.m.

Fire trucks from the city and neighboring towns responded to the call and helped in putting out the fire.

Balindua said an explosion occured after the fire started which razed the EOD office and damaged other offices. Several vehicles and structures near the area were also damaged.

The cause of the fire was still being investigated and estimated cost of damage was placed at more than P2 million.