BUTUAN CITY — A massive fire gutted the kiln dry section of the Orgon Plywood Corporation on Thursday morning, September 18, leaving an estimated ₱11.48 million worth of damage.
According to Fire Senior Inspector Roland Vasquez, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) received the fire call at around 7:22 a.m. and immediately dispatched several fire trucks to the scene. The fire reached only the first alarm but quickly spread due to the stockpile of wood materials inside the facility.
Initial reports indicated that the blaze started near the boiler area at around 7:20 a.m., with witnesses claiming to have heard an explosion before the fire erupted. Six fire trucks responded promptly, preventing the flames from spreading to nearby residential areas.
By 8:15 a.m., firefighters had the blaze under control, but heavy smoke and burning logs made the operation difficult. The fire was officially declared out by 1:15 p.m.
Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the fire. No casualties were reported.