A FIRE broke out at a building occupied by indigenous students at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) Mintal campus along Gumamela Street, Barangay Mintal, around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 16.
Initial investigation by the Mintal police and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) XI revealed the fire originated from the audio-visual room (AVR) around. The light material made it possible for the flames to spread quickly.
Central 911, BFP XI, Barangay Mintal firefighters, and volunteer responders worked quickly to extinguish the blaze. The fire was declared under control by 1:20 p.m. with no reported injuries.
BFP XI investigators pointed to faulty electrical wiring as the possible cause. Overall, six rooms were significantly damaged: two guest rooms, the dining room, the AVR room, and the function hall.
Fire Senior Inspector Frances Mae Sendrijas, spokesperson for BFP 11, confirmed that no individuals were injured during the incident. She estimated the cost of the damage to reach P9.6 million.
