ILIGAN CITY — A pre-dawn fire gutted the CPK Mercantile Building in Barangay Poblacion on Tuesday, March 17, prompting a massive firefighting response that lasted nearly two hours.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Iligan received the first alarm at 2:45 a.m., while most residents were still asleep. Despite the building’s location just meters from the central fire station at the corner of Benito Labao and Actub Streets, the blaze escalated quickly, prompting a second alarm by 2:50 a.m.
Firefighters initially believed the fire was under control, but a series of sparks reignited the blaze, extending operations. Units from neighboring barangays and nearby towns joined the effort.
The BFP declared the fire under control at 4:30 a.m.
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Flames extensively damaged the CPK Mercantile building, a major shopping destination for Iligan and nearby areas.
Officials reported no injuries, confirming that the flames missed all neighboring buildings.
Investigators are still assessing the total cost of the damage.
