Investigators are eyeing arson as one of the possible causes of the four-hour blaze that struck the famous Star City amusement park in Pasay City early Wednesday morning.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) officials said 80 percent of the Star City – with 38 rides and amusement games – was damaged while the adjacent Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) office and Aliw Theater were totally destroyed.
The three-story MBC building houses radio stations DZAR, Love Radio, Yes the Best!, and Easy Rock.
Ed de Leon, Star Parks Corporation spokesperson, pegged the cost of fire damage at R1 billion.
Pasay City Fire Marshal Paul Pili said that the fire started around 12:30 a.m. and immediately reached Task Force Bravo at 2:25 a.m.
At least 57 firetrucks and 136 personnel were deployed to the area, putting the fire under control at 4:30 a.m.
“Mabilis ang pag-responde ng firefighters, kaya lang masyadong malaki ang area at saka maraming light materials, maraming props dyan, mga karton, cotton kaya mabilis kumalat ang apoy,” he said.
Citing the claims of Star City personnel, De Leon said the fire started at the stock room where prizes for Star Games, including stuffed toys and other plasticwares, were stored.
“Nakita ng mga fire marshall ng Star City and security people na doon nagsimula and they still tried to stop it,” he said, adding that there were about 20 personnel inside the park when the fire happened.
Marlon Candido, Star City emergency response team member, said that he rushed to the park from home after learning of the fire.
“Ginuide namin ‘yung mga bumbero sa loob,” he said. “Pumasok kami sa back entrance, tapos noong nasa loob na sila, iniwan na namin sila. Lalabas sana kami sa main entrance.”
Candido said that he and five other Star City personnel broke a fire exit door to get out.
“Puro usok na nakikita namin. Nasa-suffocate na kami. Buti alam ko kung saan ‘yung pinto ng fire exit, tinadyakan ko para masira,” he said.
The BFP, meanwhile, is looking into all possible causes of the fire, including electrical fault and arson.
“Nakita natin na arson kasi nakakita kami ng simultaneous burning. Na mayroong iba-ibang lugar na nagsimula ang apoy ng sabay sabay,” Pili said.
“Tinitignan natin ang charcoal pattern ng sunog, kung saan may mga part na abong abo at kung saan may pinakayuping bakal, doon may possibility na nagsimula ang sunog,” he added.
A reported tweet saying “Star City will die” raised suspicion that the fire was intentionally set.
The tweet, which was posted two days ago, circulated at the height of the blaze.
Lisa Macuja, wife of Star City owner, Fred Elizalde, showed the post to authorities.
However, Ellen Fullido, vice president for Human Resources and Admin Services of Star City’s FJ Elizalde Group of Companies, said that they were not considering a “disgruntled” employee as behind the fire incident.
“We will just rely on the final report of the BFP,” she said. “Everyone’s entitled to his own opinion.”
As of 10:30 a.m., firefighters were still conducting a mopping-up operation at three rooms of the MBC as smoke still billowed.
Fullido said that operations at Star City, MBC and Aliw Theater will be temporarily suspended, but she assured that the affected employees will be accounted for.
“Whatever is stated in the law, we will comply,” she said.
De Leon, on the other hand, said that the amusement park will try its best to open in December.
Star City Spokesperson Rudolph Jularbal, however, said the 28-year-old amusement park will be back by October next year.
“Despite the catastrophe, MBC FM stations Love Radio, Yes the Best, and Easy Rock will continue regular broadcasting operations,” the MBC said in a statement.
DZRH was expected to go back on-air within 48 hours or less. (Joseph Pedrajas, Dhel Nazario)
