THE old building that was part of Medina Central School in Medina, in eastern Misamis Oriental, was engulfed in a fire that occurred at about 3:57 pm, Nov. 11, causing an estimated half-million pesos in damage.

SFO4 Julieta G. Wapanio, municipal fire marshal, said the fire station received a phone call at exactly 4 pm and responded within five minutes.

She said eight elementary classrooms were burned, four of which were totally damaged.

The building was made of a combination of lightweight concrete materials.

Members of the Bureau of Fire Protection’s Fire Investigation Team examine the old building of Medina Central School on Nov. 12 after it was engulfed in fire the previous afternoon. Photo by Edwin Iyo

The cause of the fire is undetermined as the investigation is ongoing, SFO4 Wapanio said. The fire was controlled at 5:07 pm and declared out at 5:12 pm, she added.

Students affected by the fire at Medina Central School, along with those displaced by earthquake-damaged classrooms, will hold their classes at the school’s covered court in Medina, Misamis Oriental. Photo by Edwin Iyo

Face-to-face classes will continue for students affected by the fire, according to Ricky Abao, a school official.

He said the children continued classes at the school’s covered court.

Abao added that town Mayor Marriane Chan has provided equipment, such as chairs and blackboards, to continue the children’s classes.

The students who survived the fire will join children whose classrooms were condemned due to cracks caused by last month’s earthquake in also occupying the covered court.

SFO4 Wapanio expressed gratitude to the Axelum Fire Brigade of the Axelum Resources Company in the town, as well as the firefighters of Gingoog and Talisayan for their assistance in extinguishing the fire.

It is estimated that 80% to 85% of the old building was destroyed by the fire.