Fire destroys commercial building in Mandaue City; woman saves dogs in viral clip

PHILIPPINES: A three-storey commercial building in Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City, was destroyed in a fire on Wednesday morning (10 Dec), causing an estimated PHP 10 million (US$170,000) in damage.

Authorities believe the blaze was sparked by an electrical fault on the ground floor.

According to Fire Officer 2 Mark Anthony Yagonia of the Mandaue City Fire Office, the fire likely began after an employee reported that an electrical connection had allegedly grounded.

When the employee turned back toward the storage area, the section was already engulfed in flames, which then spread rapidly.

Timeline of Firefighting Response

The Mandaue City Fire Office received the distress call at 7.10 am, with firefighters arriving four minutes later.

The second alarm was raised upon arrival.

The blaze was placed under control at 7.50 am and declared fully extinguished at 8.22 am.

Building Used as Showroom and Storage Facility

Initial findings indicate the fire started on the ground floor of the structure, which served as a showroom and storage area for styrofoam and insulation products.

While the company manufactures these materials, production does not take place at this location.

Viral Clip Shows Woman Saving Her Dogs During Rescue

A video of the incident went viral after showing the woman dropping her two dogs from a window to residents and firefighters below.

She remained calm despite the intense smoke and heat, prioritising the animals’ safety before climbing down a ladder with the help of responders.

Both she and the dogs were safely rescued.