The fire which extinguished on its own because of the two firewalls (Myrna Mart and P & P Building) adjoining the gutted establishment. Majority of the people were afraid of what might happen because the water utility distributing water in the town was undergoing rehabilitation for four days, wherein the schedule of resumption is on the 22nd of September yet.
What makes the situation worse is the non-availability of a fire truck in the town in the strict sense of the word, but only a water tanker. The arrival of fire trucks from Philphos Corp. and Villaba, Leyte was of no help since water was not available. It was just providential that winds that would fan the flames was also not around.
Onlookers can just thank their favorite saints, because in the previous fire that happened on the same spot several years ago, about eight persons, mostly sales ladies of the store they were serving, perished when they were trapped inside the burning building.
One lucky establishment that would benefit immensely from this incident is the opening that is being waited by almost everyone is the new SM (Sayong & Manuel) at Rizal St., Central I, several blocks away from the burned Bernardita's grocery store on the same street.
