Fire hits ZIA

May 10, 2009

Airport firetruck failed to douse blaze

Zamboanga - A Fire of unknown origin hit the employees quarters of Zamboanga International Airport at at around 4:30 a.m. yesterday reducing it to the ground while injuring one of its employees who helped put out the blaze. The terminal was saved from the fire.

The blaze which started at the employees sleeping quarters adjacent the terminal building failed to be controlled by the airports fire department prompting it to call for reinforcement from the City's Fire Department which controlled the fire more than three hours later, Celso Bayabos, airport manager said.

The fire caused slight disruption of airport operations particularly the morning arrival flights as it caused chaos around the terminal's vicinity. Damage to property was initially estimated at 5 million pesos.

BFP fire investigation team together with CAAP operatives are still investigating the cause of the fire, which the spokesman from the BFP said to be due either to faulty electric wirings or leaky LPG tank.

Airport services returned to normal operations around 9am says Bayabos.