Bocaue firecracker warehouse hit by fire had no permit, BFP says

The warehouse that went up in a blaze in Bocaue, Bulacan early Thursday had no permit to store firecrackers, the Bureau of Fire Protection said.

According to Maki Pulido's report on "24 Oras," the fire in the warehouse in Barangay Bunducan started at around 2 a.m.

Eighteen individuals were injured and over 40 houses were damaged, including 16 that were "totally" damaged.

Footage from a neighbor's CCTV showed the windows of her home shattering due to the force of the blast.

The fire was declared out by 5 a.m., leaving the wall of the warehouse and some vehicles destroyed.

"Around two oclock, may unang sumabog. After two to three minutes, sumunod na ang malalakas na pagsabog. 'Yun na ang nangyari, nakahiga at puro pader na bato, yero nakatapon sa pamilya ko," said Brando Saligumba who was injured.

The residents said they knew the structure kept firecrackers.

However, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Bocaue said that the warehouse did not have a permit.

“If warehouse niya is malapit sa kabahayan automatic 'di natin allow 'yan kasi 'di pwede na ang isang warehouse o pagaawaan ng paputok located sa residential area,” said Municipal Fire Marshal Senior Inspector Earl Carlo Mariano.

The BFP is now investigating the cause of the explosion and searching for the warehouse's owner.

Meanwhile, the neighbors said they couldn't even rescue their clothes, and now they have no place to live or money to buy food.

“Pano naman kami bukas, 'yun iniisip namin. Paano kami makakaahon, di namin alam ano gagawin namin. Sino ba ang mag-aano sa amin na bigyan kami ng tulong?” said resident Ronaldo Libo.

The barangay basketball court has been prepared as a temporary shelter for affected residents, while initial assistance such as food packs were distributed. The local government is also assessing the damage to the houses. — Sherylin Untalan/BM, GMA Integrated News