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Bacolod City?A 58-year-old man was killed yesterday morning when a fire broke out and razed a makeshift firecracker factory in a compound here.
Bacolod Bureau of Fire Protection Fire Marshall Pamela Candido identified the fatality as Henry Huertas, alleged owner of the illegal firecracker factory, was located in Purok Tuna, barangay 1 at 27th-Calamba Street, Bacolod City.
The explosion, which was felt by residents in the area, happened at around 8:15 a.m. the fire that followed destroyed the makeshift workplace of Huertas, his house and partially damaged another house in the compound, Candido said.
She said that a spark might have ignited while Huertas was mixing the ingredients for firecrackers and triggered the explosions.
Fire investigators found the severely burned body of Huertas as well as the firecrackers and burnt materials used in making firecrackers at the scene of the incident, Candido said.
She placed the initial estimate of the damage from the fire, which was put out after 20 minutes, at P50,000.
Candido said the firecracker manufacturing of Huertas might be illegal because the makeshift factory was located in a residential area.
However, she said she has yet to check with the city government to confirm this suspicion.
Candido also warned other firecracker factory owners operating illegally to move out of thickly populated areas to prevent possible danger to lives and to secure permits. /Inquirer
