100 stores affected by fire at Commonwealth Market
The dry goods section of the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City burned down at three o'clock this morning.
According to Fire Chief Insp. Marvin Mari, chief of operations of the Bureau of Fire Protection-QC, said the fire that started in the basement of the market reached the second alarm, before it was declared fire under control at eight o'clock this morning.
"Involved is one storey market with mezzanine and basement. Our establishment here has 100 tenants. The origin of fire started downstairs — in the basement — we are still investigating the cause of fire," said Mari.
No one was killed or injured in the incident, but about 100 stores were affected by the fire. All rice, oil, plastic, condiments and other dry goods were burned.
"If we can see that the contents of the market are more on oil, soy sauce, vinegar, condiments, that's why we had a little difficulty in extinguishing the fire. Another thing here is the distance of the hydrant that we are still going around the Commonwealth and then back. at the roundabout before coming back and it was rush hour so it took us a while to get under control," he added.
Some stall tenants immediately returned to their place to see what else they could salvage.
"Maybe [rice] will be useful. We started here in the market a long time ago. We have been here since 2000," said Salvador Manio, one of the rice vendors at the Commonwealth Market.
"Everyone will go home first because there is no roof here. You can read it here."
The vendors in the area are calling for help from the authorities concerned.
"It's just the assistance to get back to what it was before. The market can stand up again," said Annalyn Prado, whose family has been selling goods at the Commonwealth market for almost two decades.
Wilma Manabat, who has been selling in the market for 22 years, is very sorry, after the goods they just delivered were consumed.
"Barbecue sticks, everything, plastic, charcoal. Nothing, when I arrived I couldn't get in, I would have just opened it, we didn't save anything," said Manabat who also called for help from the Quezon City LGU.
The possible origin of the fire and the total cost of its damage are still under investigation.
According to the leadership of the Commonwealth Market, they will meet all the stall owners and tenants to find out what help the burned victims need.
