A massive fire engulfed an industrial park in Barangay Pagaspas, Tanauan City, Batangas, destroying around 200 brand-new cars on Sunday afternoon. The blaze began at approximately 1:19 p.m. in the stockyard of a food manufacturing company, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection-Tanauan City.
The fire is believed to have been sparked by piles of spent bleaching earth (SBE), a flammable by-product from the edible oil refining process, which was stored in the stockyard. “It’s flammable; when exposed to heat, it spontaneously ignites,” said F/Sr. Supt. Dennis Molo, Batangas provincial fire marshal.
The flames quickly spread from the stockyard to an adjacent open space where over 1,000 cars were parked for delivery. Approximately 200 vehicles were destroyed in the fire.
Governor Hermilando Mandanas mentioned that scrap drums containing chemicals in a nearby dumpyard may have contributed to the blaze, which intensified due to the heat. However, the fire did not significantly damage the warehouse on the site, thanks to its fire suppression system. No injuries were reported, despite the fire reaching the third alarm.