Firefighters check the gutted hall. FB photo
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Fire of still unknown origin razed the “state-of-the-art” multipurpose hall at Camp Olivas, headquarters of the Police Regional Office Region 3 here late Thursday evening.
“Napakasaklap ang nangyaring insidente dahil ang multi-purpose hall ay itinuring na ikalawang tahanan dahil dito matatagpuan ang studio ng ‘Rektang Konek.’ Umasa po kayo na kaagad mapapalitan nang isang magandang gusali at studio ito para makapagpatuloy ang pagtulong sa mga kababayan sa pamamagitan ng ‘Rektang Bayanihan,’ said PRO-3 chief Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia in his Facebook live page as the fire raged in the background.
Rektang Konek is a social media action program of the PRO-3 shown on UNTV and FB livestreaming.
Firefighters from the city and nearby towns rushed to help douse the fire but the building was gutted to the ground.
Sermonia expressed relief that no one was reported hurt in the blaze and the nearby buildings were unscathed by the fire that lasted for two hours.
The regional director’s quarters where Sermonia is staying is situated right at the back of the multi-purpose hall.
According to Sermonia, the Camp Olivas multi-purpose hall is a state-of-the art building constructed during the term of his predecessors. He said the building was also utilized as temporary mini-food bank where food and non-food logistics donated by different non-government organizations for calamity victims are stored.
The building also served as a venue of different PNP activities including conferences and meetings with top brass of the PNP.
Bureau of Fire Protection arson investigators have yet to release the result of the investigation and the cost of the damage as of posting time.
