Bocaue firecracker store fire may have been due to faulty electric fan —BFP

A faulty electric fan may have caused the fire that engulfed a firecracker store in Bocaue, Bulacan on Saturday evening, a Bureau of Fire Protection official said on Sunday.

According to Bureau of Fire Protection - Bocaue Fire Marshall Fire Inspector June Marcelino Isip, workers at A. T. Sayo Fireworks in Barangay Biñang 1st brought out a fan that was long kept in storage which when plugged caught fire.

JUST IN: FInsp. June Marcelino Isip says a dysfuctional electric fan may have cause the fire in a firecracker store in Bocaue Bulacan yesterday evening @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/EuGJFcBmXf

— Bernadette Reyes (@bernadettereyes) December 29, 2019

"Nagsaksak sila ng electric fan na galing doon sa bodega nila. It so happened po na 'yung electric fan na 'yon hindi maayos. Kumbaga hirap siyang umikot, 'yung propeller. Eventually pagsaksak po niya, nag-blink na raw po 'yung mga ilaw and then doon nag-start 'yung sunog daw po sa electric fan," Isip said.

WATCH: Firecracker store that caught fire in Bocaue Bucalan yesterday evening @gmanewsbreaking @gmanews pic.twitter.com/HP97LaBYZz

— Bernadette Reyes (@bernadettereyes) December 29, 2019

Edison Salgas who works at the firecracker store said he immediately panicked when he saw the fire.

"Paglabas ko galing sa dulo nakita ko nag-spark na. Tumakbo na 'ko. Hindi ko na alam nangyari," he said.

All seven workers at the store immediately vacated the store and were brought to safety.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection, the fire started at 6:05 p.m. and was declared fire out at 7:15 p.m.

Damage was estimated to reach P400,000.

Isip said fire trucks were deployed in strategic areas in Bocaue, a known place for selling firecrackers during the holidays, to allow them to immediately respond to fire alarms.

He said they are encouraging firecracker store owners and manufacturers to observe safety precautions to avoid fire.

"As much as possible nili-limit namin 'yun stocks nila. Bawal manigarilyo," Isip said.

The BFP also encouraged the public not to use firecrackers to avoid injuries.

"Pagka ganitong malapit na pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon, may mga ibang alternatibo naman para mag-create tayo ng ingay," Isip said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Saturday urged Filipinos to turn to safer noisemakers instead or watch community fireworks displays to welcome the New Year. —KG, GMA News