July 16, Unexpected fires hit the second floor of the Land Transportation Office building at Cottage Road, Bacolod City at around 7 p.m., then at the Lopue’s Department Store Araneta Branch at about 11 p.m. and lastly the fire ignited and spread at the food court area of Lopue’s San Sebastian branch at about 2 a.m.

photo by Elix

Estimated damage to properties according to Bureau of Fire Protection Deputy Fire Marshall, Fire Inspector Publeo Ploteña reached up to P21 million.

The Lopue’s Araneta branch being one of the oldest department stores in the city has been established in 1955 by the late Benjamin Lopue Sr.

“This was the first time ever in the history of Bacolod that three fire incidents occurred in the city in just one day,” said by one of the fire marshall volunteers of Amity who served for almost 30 years in service.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who witnessed the fire scene, praised the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Amity volunteers for their immediate action during the incident.