Fire hits Cotabato City public market

FILE: MARKET FIRE AFTERMATH. A volunteer hauls firefighting equipment after putting out the blaze at the Cotabato City public market at midday Friday, May 24, 2019. Arson investigators are yet to determine the cause of the fire. (Contributed photo by of DXMS Radio Cotabato)

COTABATO CITY — A midday fire of still unknown origin destroyed several concrete stalls at the Cotabato City public market Friday.

Cotabato City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) spokesperson, Aldrin Nara, said the fire originated in one of the concrete stalls at the market along Martinez St. at about 12:30 p.m.

Nobody was hurt in the fire that was placed under control two hours later.

Firefighters were still at the scene determining what triggered the conflagration along rows of stalls in front of the two-story market that was also hit by fire on May 22, 2018.

“Friday’s fire incident occurred one year and two days after a huge fire last year destroyed the same two-story market structure,” Nara recalled.

Sam Mundas, city market administrator, said the May 2018 fire destroyed more than 1,000 stalls, with total cost of damages estimated at PHP15 million.

Arson investigators have yet to determine the cost of damages in Friday’s fire incident.