Fire razes market stalls, houses in Zambo

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  -- At least 11 stalls and three houses were razed when a big fire hit a mini-market in an east coast village pre-dawn Wednesday, an official said.

City Fire Marshall Superintendent Dominador Zabala Jr., said the fire of still unknown origin sparked in an eatery stall about 2 a.m. and rapidly spread to the next stalls in the business center of Barangay Boalan.

Residents nearby immediately called up the local fire department that responded to the site to prevent the wild fire from spreading further as it already licked and gutted several houses built next to the stalls.

Zabala said firefighters battled the conflagration for more than two hours amid low water pressure to supply fire truck tanks helping to contain the fire.

Zabala said investigation disclosed that the fire started from one of the stalls, operating an eatery and spread to the next stalls of bakery and selling general merchandise, rice, agriculture and veterinary supplies.

The fire official estimated the damaged to the stalls at P200,000 but affected businessmen and house owners said their destroyed properties were estimated to be worth more than P1 million.