Fire hits Commonwealth Market in QC

A fire broke out at Commonwealth Market in Quezon City before dawn on Tuesday.

The fire started past 2 a.m., according to a report by Bea Pinlac on Unang Balita.

At least 40 firetrucks of the Bureau of Fire Protection and fire volunteers responded to put out the fire which reached the second alarm, the BFP said.

The fire was placed under control as of 7:43 a.m., according to the BFP.

Quezon City Fire Inspector Fire Chief Inspector Marvin Mari said that the fire started from the basement of the market where different products were stored including grocery items, according to Super Radyo dzBB’s Christian Maño.

The fire was declared out at 9:44 a.m.

Mari said among the challenges in their response were locked stalls, vendors trying to save some goods, and the far location of the fire hydrant.

Vendors were seen trying to save what wares and items they could from the fire.

Some vendors helped put out the fire using pails filled with water.

Nanay Marilou, one of the market vendors, could not help but be teary-eyed while watching the flames engulf her stall at the Commonwealth Market.

She said she could not imagine what to do next after this tragedy.

Mang Levi, also a market vendor, was not able to save any of the items he was selling since foremost in his mind was how to keep his staff safe.

The BFP is still investigating the cause of the fire, as well as the number of those affected and estimated cost of property damage.

Meanwhile, traffic became heavy on Commonwealth Avenue due to the fire, according to Christian Maño's report on Dobol B TV.

#BantayBiyahe: Mabagal na daloy ng trapiko, nararanasan sa bahagi ng Commonwealth Avenue sa Quezon City dahil sa sunog na sumiklab sa bahagi ng Commonwealth Market. | via @xtian_mano pic.twitter.com/dZIJi3DIR0

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) November 4, 2024

—with a report from Joviland Rita/KG, GMA Integrated News