Fire hits Camp Crame on Christmas Day

A "small" fire erupted inside the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Christmas Day. However, an officer investigating the incident neither confirmed nor denied its connection to Christmas Eve festivities inside the camp. The blaze, which began at 2:15 in the afternoon, occurred at a vacant lot near the PNP's Non-uniformed Personnel Association Inc. (NUPAI) building, PO3 Alden Sylvania of the PNP Base Fire told GMANews.TV on Friday. The fire consumed “flammable materials," including a stack of cardboard located at the vacant lot, he added. Firefighters were able to put out the fire in around 15 minutes, Sylvania said, adding that the PNP did not bother seeking the assistance of the Quezon City fire department. "Hindi na namin itinawag sa labas kasi maliit lang naman yung apoy at kayang ma-contain (The Quezon City’s fire department was no longer alerted because the fire was small enough to be contained)," Sylvania said. No one was hurt and no important items were burned down in the fire, he added. For his part, an investigating officer refused to give any categorical answers whether the fire was connected to Christmas Eve festivities in Camp Crame. "Wala pa po akong masasagot diyan diyan kasi we are still gathering information about the cause of the fire (We don't know yet since we are still gathering information regarding the incident)," PO3 Reynald Galawon, duty investigator from the PNP Headquarters Support Services, said. - GMANews.TV