FIRE Supt. Jenny Mae Masip, Bacolod fire marshal, shows to Mayor Albee Benitez a portion of the Bacolod Central Market in Barangay 12 razed by a fire on Friday, Dec. 13.
The fire reached second alam and affected tailoring shops, sari-sari stores, jewelry shop, and eateries, Fire Supt. Jenny Mae Masip, city fire marshal, said. Since the structure involved is a government property, Masip said that investigation has been taken over by the BFP-Western Visayas.Masip said the market was opened later during the day to allow vendors to check on their stalls and clean up.He is hoping that vendors would continue their operations in another location.
Benitez said that if opening of the market would not hamper the investigation, the fire scene is secured, and the city has assessed the extent of damage, the city will allow partial reopening.The mayor said that the Office of the Building Official was tasked to assess and he has asked the City Engineering’s Office to come up with a plan on how to improve the market structure.