Fire razes firecracker stall in Lapu-Lapu City

A FIRECRACKER stall in Purok Kapayas, Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City, was razed by fire on Wednesday evening, Dec. 18, 2024, destroying P24,000 worth of products. Rommel Ymbong, 31, one of the stall’s owners, said the fire started when a “red material” landed on the firecrackers.

The fire quickly spread due to strong winds, causing the fireworks on display to explode consecutively. “When my younger sibling went outside, I saw something red land on the products. The wind was strong, and the fire spread quickly.



I almost got hurt because I went back to retrieve the earnings to keep them safe,” Ymbong said in Cebuano. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) responded with firefighters in four fire trucks. Investigator FO3 Jopet Obiña said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, and he is reviewing closed-circuit television footage to determine if the fire was accidental or intentional.

Obiña said other possible causes include embers of a lit cigarette. A welding shop and barbecue store are nearby but located far from the stall. No injuries or fatalities were reported, and other firecracker stalls located 3.

5 meters away were not damaged. Obiña advised firecracker retailers to keep their products inside stalls to minimize fire risks. “My suggestion to them is that it would be better not to display all the firecrackers outside.

It’s safer to keep them inside, where customers can still see them, as this reduces the likelihood of a fire compared to displaying them outside,” he said. This is the first fire incident involving a firecracker stall in Lapu-Lapu City in 2024. In a similar incident on Dec.

11, 2023, a fire at a firecracker factory in Lapu-Lapu City, resulted in four deaths and six injuries. The factory owner was among those killed. Still banned Meanwhile, in Mandaue City, the local government unit still prohibits the sale of firecrackers to ensure public safety during the holiday season, City Administrator Jamaal James Calipayan said on Thursday, Dec.

19. Calipayan said the City allows the regulated sale of certain pyrotechnics, such as sparklers. He said temporary permits for sellers of pyrotechnics may be issued in designated areas, such as malls or public spaces, but only after the BFP clears the display area.

The BFP also conducts inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards. Mandaue City’s firecracker ban has been in place for eight years, following the nationwide policy implemented during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Calipayan said the prohibition has significantly reduced fire-related incidents and injuries.

Residents are urged to use pyrotechnics responsibly and only in open spaces to minimize accidents, especially in residential areas. Difference Firecrackers and pyrotechnics, though both utilizing explosive materials, differ in purpose and application. Firecrackers are specifically designed to produce loud bangs and are commonly associated with celebrations and festivals.

Pyrotechnics, on the other hand, include a wider range of devices that produce both visual and auditory effects. They are often used in professional settings, such as concerts, theatrical performances, and film productions, to create captivating displays and enhance audience experiences. / DPC, CAV.