By Jennifer P. Rendon
It took almost two days for firefighters to completely put out the massive fire that gobbled Gaisano Grand Mall in Antique province on June 17, 2021.
The Bureau of Fire Protection 6 (BFP-6) declared “fire out” around 12:15 pm Saturday, almost 43 hours since it broke out 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
But Fire Senior Superintendent Jerry Candido, BFP-6 regional director, said fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of fire.
“We will start with the full-blown investigation on Monday (June 21),” he said adding that they have yet to check with a structural engineer if the areas they would go in have no danger of collapsing.
Candido said he told fire fighters to take a day off from work after quelling the fire.
“Most of them only got a rest of an hour in between. They were exhausted. That’s why, we’re giving them a day’s off to recover,” he said.
But a few personnel were left on standby in case the fire breaks out again.
A check by the BFP showed that Gaisano Grand Mall, the first mall in the province, was compliant in terms of its fire alarm system. Its fire exits were also functional.
“That’s why, no one was trapped because their fire alarm system was working. Employees and shoppers were duly warned,” Candido said.
But the mall lacked a smoke control system, “which is quite understandable since it was made as a fire safety requirement for establishments and buildings, like malls, in 2019. It was only implemented in 2020.”
Candido surmised that the mall may have ongoing installation of the system when the fire happened.
Smoke control systems (or smoke management systems) are mechanical systems that control the movement of smoke during a fire. Most are intended to protect occupants while they are evacuating or being sheltered in place.
Earlier, fire investigators identified the store’s ladies wear section, which is located at the western portion of the second floor, as the fire’s point of origin.
The fire has reached general alarm 30 minutes after it broke out.
Candido said he immediately ordered the deployment of 22 fire trucks from all 18 towns of Antique.
Fire stations from four neighboring towns of Iloilo province; one from Iloilo City; and from Nabas, Aklan also responded.
Five fire trucks from the Federation Iloilo Fire Brigade Incorporated based in Iloilo City also went to Antique to help in putting off the fire.
The fire was declared under control at 10:56 p.m. of Thursday.
While Candido said they could not still rule if the fire was caused by short circuit of electrical wiring, he is not discounting such possibility.
Only around 40 percent of the building was not razed by fire.
On top of the damage the fire has caused to businesses, around 300 to 400 employees have been displaced.
