At least 1,000 stalls of the wet market in San Fernando, La Union were razed by fire dawn on January 11, 2024. 

The fire took five hours to contain and, as of this writing, the cause is yet to be determined.

Damage is pegged at P200 million. 

"Made of light materials ang loob ng market kaya ang bilis ng sunog, kaya nahirapan tayong i-contain 'yung sunog," FCINSP. Jun Eland Wanawan, marshal of the San Fernando City Fire Station, said.

Affected business owners are now seeking assistance.

"Walang-wala talaga..walang naiwan, nasunog lahat," Vickey Affilanes, a stall owner, said.

"Masakit na masakit talaga kasi bagong dating ng paninda namin [tapos] yan lang ang inaasahan namin," Evangeline Lirazan, another stall owner, said.

"Hindi ko alam kung ano nangyari, yung iba more than one million ang lugi,” Dionisia Ancheta, a vendor, added. 

The vendors and stall owners affected were relocated temporarily to the covered court of Barangay Ilocanos Sur at Norte.

The city government is considering declaring a state of calamity.

"Kung anong extent ng calamity kasi sa bagyo [kasi] nasunugan din sila doon, ang na identify nila is yung doon lang sa palengke… kaya pag aaralan natin lahat," Alfredo Pablo Ortega, vice mayor of San Fernando, said.

The City Council is set to pass a resolution suspending cash ticket payments temporarily and considering business permit renewals with leniency for the merchants affected.