The fire at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bureau of Research and Standards in Quezon City on Wednesday afternoon was caused by a short circuit, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
The blaze began at 12:30 p.m., reached the third alarm, and was extinguished by 1:49 p.m.
‘Based on the initial spot report, the fire was caused by electrical ignition due to a short circuit in the ceiling of the Records Section located on the third floor of the building,’ the BFP National Capital Region said in a statement Wednesday night.
‘The incident remains under investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the case,’ it added.
Earlier, the DPWH said initial findings showed the blaze started when a computer unit at the Materials Testing Division reportedly exploded.
The department stressed that no documents related to the flood control scandal were in the affected building.
It added that no personnel were harmed during the incident. /mr