UPDATE ON MARKET FIRE INVESTIGATION

March 18, 2023 Metro BLISTT

Baguio City Fire Marshall Supt. Marisol Odiver on March 16, 20223 said they are still awaiting the result of the laboratory tests that will determine the cause of fire that hit the city market last March
11, 2023. She said that as of the moment, the point of origin of the fire, particularly the specific stall where the fire started had been determined located at the wagwagan section near the chicken livestock at Block 4 extension area.

She said the pieces of evidence submitted to the BFP national headquarters for laboratory testing were collected during the fire scene analysis using National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
international standard, arc mapping and identification of fire patterns undertaken. These will be subjected to flammability tests and electrical analysis by the fire laboratory service of the BFP national headquarters, results of which are now being awaited.

Odiver said the investigative team also took statements from witnesses and gathered other relevant
information to substantiate the ongoing investigation and come up with a conclusion. Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier said subjecting the evidence to forensic examination is necessary to establish what caused the blaze. “Determining the cause of a fire requires forensics. Hindi basta-basta visual ‘yan. Parang krimen din ‘yan. Diyan natin malalaman kung paano talaga nag-umpisa and it will be conducted by the Bureau of Fire Protection to once and for all dispel the intrigues and lies being spread,” the mayor said.

Aileen P. Refuerzo