UP Shopping Center fire put out after more than an hour; stall owners emotional

The fire which broke out at 7:14 a.m. Thursday at the UP Shopping Center in UP Diliman in Quezon City was declared out at 8:53 a.m.

According to Quezon City Fire Marshall Manuel Manuel, the cause of the fire is still unknown as investigation is still ongoing.

WATCH: for those asking where and how the fire at the UP shopping center began, watch this @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/6R7LURYD2Z

— Bernadette Reyes (@bernadettereyes) March 8, 2018

He said that the fire quickly spread because of the structure's age and materials.

LOOK:inside UP Shopping Center following the fire that broke 714 AM today @gmanewsbreaking @gmanews pic.twitter.com/yzNcoIe6Zv

— Bernadette Reyes (@bernadettereyes) March 8, 2018

“Ine-establish pa namin kung saan initial nagsimula ang sunog kasi pagdating namin dito halos lahat may usok na 'yung building. Made of semi-concrete pero luma na 'yung structure,” Manuel said.

He added that the structure may collapse because of the damage.

“Mostly tinamaan lahat ang ceiling ng establishment kasi kahoy 'yan. Nasusunog 'yung kahoy kaya may tendency nagwe-weaken na bababa 'yung ceiling," Manuel said.

LOOK: Quezon City Fire Marshal oversees mopping operation at UP Shopping Center. Once a vibrant establisment, the place is off-limits for now as debris are falling off @gmanewsbreaking @gmanews pic.twitter.com/9syMf1mLDO

— Bernadette Reyes (@bernadettereyes) March 8, 2018

WATCH: firemen conduct overhauling / mopping operation inside UP shopping center. ceiling is being torn down to allow heat to escape and allow better ventilation @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/RchNvlGTVS

— Bernadette Reyes (@bernadettereyes) March 8, 2018

Stall owner Joyce Placido was emotional as she watched the fire raze her livelihood.

“Pinundar namin 'yan. Pinagkahirapan namin ipundar 'yan. Nagsisikap kami diyan para sa mga anak namin pero nakikita na lang namin nasusunog na lang siya nang ganyan. Wala kaming magawa. Hindi ako makapagligtas ng gamit namin," she said.

one of the stall owners at the UP shopping center emotional as she watches her stall on fire @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/zOjtcVIYrs

— Bernadette Reyes (@bernadettereyes) March 8, 2018

Meanwhile UP Chancellor Michael Tan assured students that they will be given consideration for lost readings and other materials that also caught fire. He shared the sadness felt by the whole UP community as the shopping center was an integral part of the community.

“Mahalaga ang Shopping Center for us. Everyone at one time or another pupunta dito from photocopying to haircuts to ID pictures. 'Yan ang main source," he said.

UP Chancellor Mike Tan appeals for the construction of a fire station inside UPD Campus @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/CTKRrTlbwP

— Bernadette Reyes (@bernadettereyes) March 8, 2018

Tan also stressed the need for a fire station inside the campus where approximately 70,000 people reside from faculty, students and staff.

“Ultimately we need a fire station here. May naka-allocate na ang local government at Bureau of Fire Protection. Sana naman this year maitayo na because the closest fire station is at least 20 minutes away,” he said.

UP student William Lara said a lot of good memories were brought down with the fire.

“Every day ako pumupunta diyan, bumibili ng shake kasama na 'yung Rodic's. Memories na lang siya. Sana lang maayos tsaka sana 'yung fire prevention ng UP maayos kasi pang-ilan na 'yan. It's a very big loss kasi Shopping Center has been ingrained in UP history since panahon pa ng parents ko so kasama siya sa culture ng UP," he said. —KG, GMA News