Investigators focus on arson as cause of Star City fire

Bureau of Fire (BFP) investigators have dropped the possibility of an electrical fault and focused their investigation on "arson" as the cause of the fire that destroyed a good part of the Star City amusement park in Pasay City, a fire official said Sunday.

Quoting city fire marshal Superintendent Paul Pili, Super Radyo dzBB's Mao dela Cruz reported that arson remains to be the only probable cause of the fire.

“Wala na. Arson na lang ang tinigtignan natin…Arson na ‘to,” Pili told Super Radyo dzBB's  Dobol B sa News TV.

Bureau of Fire Protection-Pasay personnel led by Fire Inspector Paul Pili (left) inspect what remains of amusement park Star City in Pasay City on Sunday, October 6, 2019. Pili concluded that the cause of the fire that occurred on Oct. 2 is arson due to the gasoline substance found in the area. Danny Pata

Pili said the Star City management has a standard operating procedure of turning off their power system when the amusement park is not in operation.

The fire broke out when Star City was closed early Wednesday morning.

Pili added that the investigation is looking into the possible motive for the arson to identify the perpetrators of the crime.

Dahilan ng sunog sa Star City, nakasentro na sa arson, ayon sa Pasay City Fire Marshall. #SuperBalitaSaTanghali https://t.co/Jl7zdrja0g

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) October 6, 2019

BFP personnel on Sunday conducted a walk-through around the Star City compound after the fire destroyed a huge part of the amusement park.

Pili led the activity and showed to the media the extent of damage.

In a video posted Facebook, GMA News’ Bernadette Reyes showed the second floor of the Star City that was filled with soot and ashes.

Bump cars of the amusement park were also seen covered with burnt debris and soot.

According to the BFP, almost 90% of the compound was destroyed by the fire.

On Wednesday, the BFP in the National Capital Region (BFP-NCR) formed an investigating team to look into the fire that hit the Star City theme park. —Joviland Rita/LBG/KG, GMA News