FIRE HITS LA UNION’S WET MARKET WITH P200M DAMAGES REPORTED

January 12, 2024 Headlines

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union At least 1,156 stalls were destroyed and around P200 million capital economic losses when a fire razed the public wet market in Barangay Ilocanos Sur here on
January 11, 2024 early morning. Fire Chief Insp. Jun Wanawan of the Bureau of Fire Protection said they received a report at about 1:46 am about an ongoing fire at the market.

Wanawan said fire fighters were swiftly deployed and fire out was declared 6:52 am. No casualties reported. ”As of this time, we are still conducting firefighting operations on the ground while we are investigating the cause of the fire,” he said. The BFP here was assisted by their colleagues from
Bacnotan, San Juan, Bauang, Luna, Aringay, Agoo, Caba, Balaoan, and Naguilian, all of this province; the FilipinoChinese fire volunteers, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, San Fernando Community Airport, Poro Point Management Corp., Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, Philippine National Police, and AQN Marketing Corp.

The city government has placed under state a state of calamity to pave the way for the release of calamity fund for immediate relief and assistance and recovery of affected stall owners and businessmen. Meanwhile, in a meeting conference between the city officials headed by City Mayor Dong Gualberto, the City Legislative headed by City ViceMayor Alfredo Pablo R. Ortega, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC), Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 1.

Discussed the details of the incident, the rescue operation, and the initial financial assistance to the stall owner victims. Temporarily market vendors were all placed at covered court of Barangay
Ilocanos Sur, and Doña Paca Street.

EB/FL/ABN