Fire Destroys Manticao Central School Building in Misamis Oriental
A fast-moving fire destroyed a six-classroom building at Manticao Central School in Misamis Oriental on Monday. The fire started just after 1 p.m., rapidly engulfing the structure before firefighters could fully contain it.
Robert Abellar, a Grade IV teacher, spotted thick smoke billowing from a room used to store old books. He immediately alerted nearby classrooms to evacuate students safely. Of the six classrooms affected, three were occupied by Grade IV students, one housed the Special Education class, and two served as stockrooms.
Firefighters Rush to Scene but Flames Spread Quickly
Senior Fire Officer 1 Rex Giovanni Gaid, who led the firefighting efforts, said they received the emergency call at 1:08 p.m. and promptly responded. However, by their arrival, three rooms had already been consumed by the fire. Reinforcements from neighboring towns arrived with additional fire trucks to help control the blaze.
The fire was declared under control within 20 minutes, and finally extinguished at 2:16 p.m., just over an hour after it began. Classes were suspended for the rest of the day to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Local officials and firefighters noted the swift response prevented further damage, but the loss of classrooms will impact the school community. Investigations into the fire’s cause are ongoing.
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