A fire gutted a two-storey kitchenware warehouse in Barangay Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City on Friday.

According to a report from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire started at around 3 p.m. and quickly reached a third alarm in just about 20 minutes.

 “Kaya ho ito naging medyo matagal at visible if you pass by NLEX kasi plastic products ho [ang lamang ng warehouse], ‘yong plastic products talaga hong matagal mapatay at saka ‘yong smoke is itim na itim,” Valenzuela Mayor Wes Gatchalian said.

According to employees who declined to be identified, they were out for a break and no one was inside the building when the fire broke out.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

“Sa awa ng Diyos, break time daw ho nang mangyari ‘yon, close to mga sampung tao lang ‘yong nasa loob at lahat naman nakalikas,” Gatchalian said.  

The fire did not spread to other warehouses in the compound and in a nearby residential area.

Authorities could not give immediate details on the cause of the fire.

Gatchalian said the warehouse had the necessary permits to operate.

About 30 firetrucks responded to the incident, including from the BFP and private and village volunteers. Firefighters are still battling the blaze, as of this writing.