MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) Fire hit a residential building at the posh Bonifacio Global City in Taguig shortly before evening of Tuesday, February 25, but it was immediately contained. No injuries have been reported as of posting.

According to Senior Inspector Severino Sevilla, the investigators are initially looking at rubbish fire on the 4th floor as the cause of the incident. The fire reached second alarm.

Fort Victoria has 2 towers. The fire hit Tower 2, a 25-story condominium which is still unocuppied. A bulletin posted by the authorities at the building said, however, that 97 persons – mostly construction workers – were evacuated from the building.

Tower 1 so far only has one tenant on the 18th floor, according to City Fire Marshall Chief Inspection Junito Maslang of the Taguig Fire Station. 

The fire occured on the 4th floor parking area, which is shared between the two towers. Maslang told reporters a cigarette may have ignited the garbage, composed mostly of construction materials.

“Tinitignan natin kung may cigarette butts kasi yun ang most probably na tinitignan natin na pinanggalingan. Yung construction workers, minsan kung saan saan nagtatapon ng cigarette butts,” he said. (We’re looking at cigarette butts to be the cause. Some construction workers are careless about disposing cigarette butts.) 

Smoke entered the garbage chute of the building, which is why it reached the basement and the roofdeck. As of posting, smoke was still being suctioned out of the basement. At least 30 construction workers, most of whom were unaware of the fire, had to be evacuated out of the building basement, said Maslang.  

Maslang said the building sustained minimal damage, since the fire did not touch any of its walls or posts. “Considering it’s a rubbish fire, no structural damage,” he added.

At least 27 fire trucks responded, putting the fire under control by 6:35 pm and out by 6:47 pm. – Rappler.com