TACLOBAN CITY– A fire broke out at Pawing National High School in Barangay Guindapunan, Palo, Leyte, on the evening of June 18, destroying three classrooms and causing an estimated P1.26 million in damages.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported that the incident was first alerted at 8:15 pm, with fire trucks arriving at the scene just two minutes later.
The blaze was initially declared under first at 8:18 pm, before being escalated to second alarm at 8:22 pm who later declared the fire under control at 8:52 pm and fire out at 9:08 pm.
No injuries or fatalities were reported.
The fire completely gutted three classrooms, a faculty room, and a makeshift canteen, where the fire was suspected to have started.
Responding units included five fire trucks from the BFP, three fire volunteer units, and support from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by authorities.
Mariza Magan, Leyte schools superintendent, said that she felt sad on the incident involving the school. She said that she would ask for possible assistance from the local government unit on the construction of the burned classroom which was occupied by Junior high school students.
She also said that she would check if the affected students could temporarily use classrooms at the nearby Pawing Elementary School.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
