ILIGAN CITY — A massive predawn fire tore through the Wet Market in Barangay Poblacion, Iligan City, on Sunday, August 23, 2026, destroying about half of the market and affecting at least 167 stalls, according to initial reports from local authorities.
The blaze erupted at around 2:00 a.m., with initial information indicating that the fire started in an area behind the old Gaisano building before rapidly spreading through the market, where numerous commercial stalls and establishments were located.
The Iligan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ICDRRMO) said a fire call was received at approximately 2:13 a.m., while other official reports placed the recorded response call at 2:16 a.m. The incident was subsequently raised to the third alarm at around 2:17 a.m., prompting a major emergency response.
Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control at approximately 3:02 to 3:03 a.m., but operations continued for several hours to ensure that no remaining embers could reignite the fire. The incident was officially declared fire out at 5:23 a.m.
The extent of the destruction became apparent after daylight, with a significant portion of the wet market reduced to burned structures and debris. Initial assessments indicated that around half of the market was affected by the fire.
Among the establishments affected was Ogoc Eatery, a well-known local business reportedly operating in the area since the 1980s. Its inclusion among the establishments hit by the blaze added to the sense of loss among residents and longtime customers who have known the eatery as part of the community’s commercial life for decades.
For the market vendors, however, the destruction represents more than physical damage. The affected stalls were sources of livelihood for families who depended on daily sales to meet their basic needs.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and city authorities have yet to determine the total value of property and merchandise destroyed. The official cause of the fire also remains under investigation.
FO1 Renzy Reuyan, the designated investigator for the incident, remained at the scene to conduct an investigation into how the fire started and to assess the extent of the damage.
Authorities are expected to examine the possible point of origin, electrical and structural conditions, and other circumstances that may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. No conclusion on the cause has been released as of the initial reporting.
The Local Government Unit of Iligan City, through the ICDRRMO, immediately mobilized personnel to assist in the emergency response and the initial assessment of the affected area. Other city offices, including the Bureau of Fire Protection, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Emergency and Evacuation Disaster Management Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, and the City Administrator’s Office, were deployed to help secure the area and assist affected vendors.
Iligan City Mayor Frederick W. Siao expressed sympathy to those whose livelihoods were affected and assured the vendors that the city government would not abandon them in the aftermath of the fire.
“Dili mo namo pasagdan,” Siao said, emphasizing the local government’s commitment to helping affected vendors recover.
The mayor said the city government would prepare a comprehensive report and action plan concerning the incident, including measures intended to assist those who lost their stalls, merchandise, and sources of income.
Authorities have also urged the public to exercise caution around the affected market while assessment, clearing, and other interventions are ongoing.
As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to establish the exact cause of the blaze, identify the full extent of the damage, and determine the appropriate assistance needed by the 167 affected stallholders.
For many vendors and longtime establishments, the fire marks a devastating loss not only of property but of years of livelihood and community history, as the city begins the difficult task of recovery and rebuilding.