Laguna oil mill fire now under control — BFP Alaminos

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 17) — A coconut oil mill fire that was burning for more than two days is now under control, fire authorities reported Wednesday.

In a phone call, the Bureau of Fire Prevention (BFP) in Alaminos, Laguna confirmed that the blaze was declared under control at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Firefighters struggled to fully extinguish the fire due to the highly combustible nature of copra or coconut meat – a raw material in the production of oil.

«Ang fire na ito ay contained na,» BFP Laguna senior fire officer Fraño Ron Bago told CNN Philippines. «Ang ginagawa na lang natin ay ibinubukod 'yung may mga usok pa.»

[Translation: This fire is contained. We are just separating the copra that is still smoldering.]

The BFP said over 200,000 tons of copra were stored inside the affected oil mill.

«We have to keep it here para ma-contain. Dahil kung ilalabas natin yan without proper planning, mas lalo tayong madidisgrasya,» Alaminos Mayor Glenn Pampolina Flores said.

[Translation: We have to keep it here to be contained. Because if we release it without proper planning, an accident may occur.]

Flores said more than 20 fire departments in different cities or municipalities were helping them put out the fire.

The mayor added that the incident served as a wake up call for them to implement stricter policies to ensure the safety of Alaminos establishments.

The fire reportedly broke out early Sunday morning and was raised to third alarm until Tuesday.

Authorities have not reported any casualties so far and the cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

With reports from CNN Philippines' correspondent EJ Gomez